Women speak about safety

The safety of women and their vulnerability to crime were the topics of a discussion around a photographic exhibition called Seeing Through Safety Lens.
AT THE age of 15, Lihle Nyanisa, a learner at Supreme College, is conscious about the vulnerability of women to crime in public spaces. She is the voice promoting the safety of women.

15-year-old Lihle Nyanisa15-year-old Lihle Nyanisa has tips to share about women safetyLihle was one of 10 women who shared ideas about how best communities and the City can work together to create friendly and safe public spaces, during a photographic exhibition called Seeing Through Safety Lens. They spoke on 17 August, during Women’s Month.

The women discussed and interpreted a range of pictures taken in Johannesburg and other areas that showed women in different areas and how they interacted with their surroundings, and what it was that made women feel safe or unsafe. The photographs were taken in Braamfontein, Katlehong and Evaton.

“Most places in the city are safe during the day, but dangerous in the night. I think having structures like community policing forums and having police officers patrolling 24 hours will help in ensuring safety,” said Lihle.

As she has to walk daily in the CBD, Lihle knows the pros and cons of navigating the busy streets of Joburg. “Isolated areas are mostly targeted by criminals, so to avoid being taken advantage of, people should walk in groups or consider using different routes.”

The project was hosted by Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, a non-governmental organisation that champions women’s issues, including domestic and sexual violence and women’s rights in general.

Representing the City, Selaelo Mohojane, the manager of women development in Region E, said women by nature were the most vulnerable to crime in public spaces and sometimes in even in their private spaces. “We must stop feeling sorry for ourselves and fight back. Join street committees, community police forums or any other safety structures in your communities.”

Community forum
The City has implemented active community forums in places such as Ivory Park, Alexandra and the CBD.

Selaelo Mohojane, manager of women development in Region EWomen are vulnerable, says Selaelo Mohojane, manager of women development in Region EElaborating on community safety, Joan Moeketsi, the deputy director of social crime prevention in the Gauteng department of community safety, said poverty contributed to the escalation of crime in poor communities.

Women living in squatter camps and informal settlements were mostly exposed to crime, she pointed out, adding that the department had rolled out a number of campaigns to build unity in communities.

Know Your Neighbour was one of the initiatives designed to build caring neighbourhoods. “We encouraged communities to develop relationships with one another. It starts with simple things like greeting your neighbour over the fence, inviting them over to your house,” explained Moeketsi.

The campaign had already been rolled out in various suburbs, including Sandton, Linksfield and Bedfordview. Moeketsi said the community must stop locking themselves behind high walls and start building safe and caring communities.

The department also conducted regular school visits to educate learners about keeping safe. “This is an ongoing programme, aimed at ensuring that our children know how to keep safe and not be easy targets for criminals.”