Youths march against gender violence

Johannesburg – On Saturday the Johannesburg Student Council Alumni Network (JSC ALNet) conducted a march against gender-based violence in the Joburg CBD, and handed over a memorandum to the city’s leadership.

  The JSC ALNet, a network of Joburg’s future leaders, consists of high school and tertiary students and young professionals, who aim to create awareness of the importance of civic responsibility through skills and leadership development.

  The protest came in the wake of reports of the rapes and murders of a number of women.

  JSC’s student mayor Tahir Tayob said their future is facing grave threat from the unjust violence, rape and murder of women in the country.

  “The entire country should be fighting this injustice around the clock and looking for practical solutions that can counter these acts of horror against a vulnerable gender. As JSC ALNet, we decided to protest in solidarity with all the victims of gender-based violence and their families, and also handover a memorandum to the mayor with action items we would want him to consider and enforce in the city,” Tayob said.

  The memorandum was received by City of Joburg speaker Vasco da Gama.

  The memorandum, among other issues requested the issuing of ‘rape whistles’ which can be used to call for help during an emergency. The JSC ALNet also called for the City to create safe, reliable and trusted centres where women can feel comfortable and protected to report cases of sexual assault, while addressing the challenges women face when reporting crimes to the police.

  Da Gama told the protestors that the issue of gender-based violence has been prioritised by the City.