Enough is enough: Methodist Church Marches against rape.

Members of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Soshanguve circuit march to Soshanguve police station against rape.

 

 

The Methodist Church of Southern Africa Soshanguve circuit took their Sunday service to the streets as they marched against rape on 17 March Sunday morning.

Hundreds of church members known for their community awareness marched with placards and banners displaying strong messages such as“Enough is enough”, “Rape Destroys” and “Say No to Abuse”. They chanted spiritual hymns and “Senzeni na” struggle song.

The march was dubbed a ‘spiritual march against rape’ and the church described rape assaults as satanic.

Earlier this month Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshega announced details of a major initiative to raise rape awareness and educate the 10,2 million learners in South African schools.

The Methodist church adopted the pledge which was circulated by the Department of Basic Education based on the Bill of Responsibilities that includes a statement on violence and rape. The pledge was given to members of the church before the march commenced.

Church members marched from Block K were the church is located to Soshanguve police station in Block H. Other community members also joined.

Motorists were patient despite being delayed as the fed-up devotees hit the Mabopane highway headed for the police station.

The church led by Reverend Norman Raphahlele and Reverend Refilwe Tawana submitted a memorandum to Soshanguve police station commander, Sello Molokwane, who accepted the memorandum on behalf of Provincial Commissioner in the presence of other police officials.

The memorandum was read aloud to everyone by Reverend Tawana.

The main theme of the memorandum was that the community is fed-up about escalating rape rates in the community and is a violation of human rights.

The memorandum requested the turnaround time to be improved, victims to be informed about the progress, protection of evidence, and the SAPS to educate the church regarding the preservation of evidence.

This campaign was initiated by the church following various rape incidents that stunned the Soshanguve community earlier this year.

Two minors from Soshanguve Block AA and Block XX were raped. The incidents took place on 26 January and 17 February respectively.

The suspects were also minors who were later released into the custody of their parents.

According to Reverend Tawana the matter was still under investigation.

The victims were members of the Methodist Church and the church was determined to support them.

“The victims would ask what the church would do about these growing immoral acts. As a church we were calling for an end to rape. We say enough is enough,” said Rev Tawana.

Commander Molokwane showed his gratitude to the church for halting their usual Sunday service to march against one of the escalating crimes in South Africa.

“I thank the church for standing against such offences and disrupting their schedules to fight crime in our communities. Thanks for notifying the police about such challenges,” he said.

Immediately after signing the memorandum together with Tawana Molokwane promised to take the church’s plea to the highest authority of the SAPS and promised to start fighting rape in Soshanguve.

Reverend Tawana told Rekord that they were enthusiastic to do such campaigns and joining hands with the SAPS would eradicate crime in the community.

“We are still going to engage the police to educate us. We are going to do another march in June or July which we hope other churches will join,” said Rev Tawana.