About 200 women from different dominations gathered for the Victim Empowerment Program (VEP) as part of the Women's Month activities at the Elim Methodist Church in Olievenhoutbosch, Tshwane Region, last Wednesday.
The program was aimed at empowering and disseminating information on services rendered to both women and men through the gender based violence program. This was also a platform to teach the community about their rights and responsibilities so that they can stand for themselves.
Presenting the purpose for the day, Maria Makhafula from the Gauteng Department of Social Development Tshwane Region said that the program aims to have women celebrate their various achievements since 1956 where more than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in 1956, to revolt against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
Local Police Station Commander Colonel Modise said, "As a police station we are challenged by individuals who drop domestic violence cases before they are even been investigated by the police. We have done awareness programs before but our challenge remains unabated due to among others the lack of formal Community Policing Forum (CPF)".
 
Survivor of the domestic violence, mother of three children Anolia Lusunzi was emotionally abused by both her mother during her childhood and later in her life she was physically abused by her boyfriend. She however, managed to survive through help from a Non-Profitmaking Organizations (NPOs) for abused women.
"Today I own a beauty salon and in that space I have targeted abuse women in Olievenhoutbosch. Since 2017, we have managed to assist young women and offer them self-sustainable programs that are aimed at empowering them", said Lusunzi who is now also a motivational speaker.
The community members were given an opportunity to make comments or ask questions following their engagement on a dialogue, presentations and showed a movie on gender based violence.
 
The gender-based violence Command Centre is 0800 428 428 or 0800 GBV GBV.
Social worker, Kgomotso Nhlanhleng said that domestic violence affects everyone and it cuts across gender and race.