The MEC for Cogta, Zolile Williams, together with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, Speaker of Council Eugene Johnson, Chief Whip Wandisile Jikeka, and other senior municipal officials, engaged the student movement who held a march for the #JusticeForCwecwe movement held in front of City Hall today.
The student march aimed to request assistance from the municipality to create awareness and support the cause and also certify measures being taken to ensure the safety of children.
MEC Williams emphasized the need for action against perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV), stating that the license of the private school where Cwecwe attended has been revoked by the government. He also said that he had spoken with Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu to intervene. Williams highlighted the urgency of protecting children, stressing that the life of the child was at risk due to the rapist’s actions. He called for the installation of cameras on all streets to monitor what is happening and ensure people’s safety, enabling them to walk freely. “Real men do not rape,” Williams stated.
Mayor Lobishe assured the community that a meeting had been scheduled with property owners to address safety concerns. “Our future is in safe hands by standing together and fighting together,” she said. “When we send our children to school, we expect it to be a safe space.” The Mayor also welcomed the petition making the rounds and expressed the municipality’s commitment to strengthening safety by hiring additional personnel to ensure public protection.
Related: #JusticeForCwecwe
