LOCAL youths marched to the Chris Hani Hexagon in the Komani CBD on Youth Day last week to show their opposition to the killing of women and children in South Africa.
Dressed in black and white, with red tape over their mouths, the young people were participating in an event organised by the Rise Young Women’s Club.
The Club is a young women empowerment project headed by the Soul City Institute for Social Justice.
Chairman Siyamthanda Mapoza said, “We decided to go out to the community and voice our outcry about the killings where children are dragged into prostitution while some are being abducted. We have observed such incidents happening in communities.”
Mapoza said the black clothing conveyed mourning for the women and children who had been murdered.
“The red tapes over our mouths represent the blood that has already been spilled through people getting beaten, their body parts being cut off and sold. The white represent the saintliness of targeted children.”
She urged the community to rise up and to break the silence against rape, abuse and violence.
Families should not resort to family discussions when such things occurred but should involve the police.
The memorandum could not be handed over to the chief magistrate Victor Nqumse as the court was closed for the public holiday, but it would be handed over at a later date.
The Komani youth organisation and the Enoch Mgijima junior city council were also present.
