Staff Reporter
With South Africa’s ongoing battle against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), the Namakwa Community Police Forum (CPF) in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) has joined hands in efforts to combat GBVF in their communities.
The Namakwa District CPF recently participated in a Meet-and-Greet programme on Radio NFM, hosted by Robin-Lee Milford, where the critical issue of GBVF was placed at the centre of discussion.
SAPS Namakwa District Corporate Communication Officer, Captain Ivan Magerman, engaged with listeners on the importance of sustained community involvement in preventing and responding to GBVF, he emphasised that the fight against GBVF cannot be confined to the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, but requires consistent action throughout the year.
Chairperson of the Namakwa District CPF Board, Sandra Beukes, also called on residents to actively participate in a march against GBVF and Femicide, scheduled to take place on Friday, 02 October 2026 at 10:00 in Matjieskloof.
The march on 2 October 2026, will have various government departments and community stakeholders in attendance.
This will be followed by a vital community dialogue aimed at addressing the underlying factors contributing to GBVF and strengthening collaboration between communities, SAPS and other relevant stakeholders in preventative measures.
During the radio discussions, Beukes further highlighted the importance of creating greater awareness about GBVF, particularly among vulnerable members of society.
She encouraged communities to have open and constructive conversations about consent, sexual violence, victim support and the responsibility of all members of society to prevent abuse.
She further challenged harmful attitudes that place blame on victims rather than on perpetrators, emphasising how a person chooses to dress, their level of intoxication or any other circumstance can never be justified as consent to sexual or any other form of violence.
Namakwa’s District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the Namakwa CPF for its continued commitment and unwavering support to SAPS in the fight against crime and GBVF in their communities.
He further called on community members to actively participate in initiatives aimed at building safer communities and to continuously collaborate with SAPS, the CPF, government departments and other stakeholders to prevent crime and protect vulnerable persons.
The police in the Namakwa area’s commitment to creating safer communities was displayed through this collaborative initiative, where they aim to protect victims and survivors of GBVF and ensure they are safe, supported and treated with dignity.
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