Church takes firm stand against GBV
The Presbyterian Church of Africa’s St William Bottom circuit in Khayelitsha has added its voice to the resounding call for an end to the abuse of women and children.
The appeal was made when the church held a candlelight vigil for all victims of gender-based violence on Sunday June 12.
Reverend Ntobeko Gijana, said when women and children are abused, they felt the pain and decided to create a platform for victims to talk openly about gender abuse.
“We cannot preach to people that are not well and who had been abused. We need to create a platform where they could talk about their issues openly without any fears. We should be able to provide solutions or at least point them to a place where they could be helped.
‘’We must not only preach on the pulpit. But we need to address social ills and partner with community stakeholders so that we could be a part of the solution. We have a huge responsibility as the church to provide social cohesion and upliftment. We want our people to know that we are here as the church to serve them,” he said.
Lingelethu West police station spokeswoman, Sergeant Xoliswa Nyalambisa, said it was essential that they partnered with community-based stakeholders such as churches because it made their jobs a bit easier.
Sergeant Nyalambisa said the fight against gender based violence and other social ills was not the job of police only. She believes that everyone has the duty and responsibility to play their part in making our communities a better a safer place.
Western Cape Koinonia Christian Council general secretary, Pastor Luyanda Silingwa, said churches had played a major role in the fight against apartheid. However, after the attainment of freedom, he said, many thought the role of the church shifted from community upliftment.
Mr Silingwa said it was critical that faith-based organisations provided support to police officers.
Session clerk at the Presbyterian Church of Africa, Zolile Siswana, said he was pleased that the church had taken a decision to play an active role in the fight against GBV.
