Mayor Dan Plato urged parents not to sweep the wrongdoings of their children under the carpet, adding that “we cannot be known as murderers and drug addicts”.
He said this at a Women’s Day event he hosted at the Dulcie September (Athlone) civic centre on Wednesday August 14. A total of 500 women were entertained, and treated to a two-course dinner.
The theme for the event was Be bold, Step up, Speak out, to encourage women not to accept abuse as the norm.
Mr Plato said this was one of many events the City is hosting across Cape Town in celebration of women and the work they do to uplift communities.
“It is unfortunate though, that we cannot celebrate Women’s Day without acknowledging and being honest about the dangers of being a woman too.
“That is part of what Women’s Month is about, because the more we talk about this, the more empowered we can be to call it out when we see it, and even when we suspect it.
“It is unacceptable for men to think that it is okay to harm a woman. It is all our duty to stand up and to speak out, because through continued action, we can change minds,” he said.