Initiative to fight GBV launches

Johannesburg - An initiative to curb gender-based violence (GBV) called What about the boys was recently launched at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The initiative plans to reach as many as 10 000 boys, and comes three years after the national outcry to end GBV following the murder of 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana in 2019.

South African crime statistics for last year indicate that of the 902 women murdered between October to December, 232 were linked to domestic violence.

Statistics South Africa’s Crimes Against Women in South Africa report of 2021 suggests that one in five women had experienced violence at the hands of their partners, and in 2015, the country’s femicide rate was nearly four times that of global figures.

The What about the boys initiative is run by Primestars, a company that focuses on youth development through educational theatre, alongside Markhams, part of the Foschini group.

Markham’s head of marketing Nicol Rademeyer says growing GBV incidents have compelled them to take a stand.

“As a prominent men’s brand we believe that the future of the country depends on a nation of good men, who know right from wrong, and challenge toxic masculinity to protect those who cannot protect themselves by speaking out against violence inflicted on women and children,” Rademeyer says.

Markham’s involvement in the GBV fight is part of the company’s drive to create a better world.

“This is why three years ago we decided to stand up, not only for women and children, but for a better South Africa. Within five days of

Eight held for police officer’s murder

Johannesburg - Police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder of a Hillbrow police officer in Boksburg.

The late Sergeant Siyabonga Shabalala, 38, was driving with his sister in Windmill Park when they were hijacked by three suspects. The Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase said the hijacked car was found in Vosloorus.

“The suspects allegedly pushed his sister out of the vehicle and shot the off-duty police officer before driving away with the injured policeman in his vehicle. His body was later found on an open field in the Mapleton area near R103 Old Heidelberg road. A cattle herder alerted the police when he saw the body with a gunshot wound on his lower stomach,” Nkwalase said.

Three suspects, Tumelo Molapo, 30, Laurence Marindze, 28, and Aubrey Shabalala, 42 were allegedly found stripping the hijacked vehicle and a firearm was also found on the premises. They appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of the hijacked vehicle and vehicle parts as well as illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Five more suspects aged between 23 and 30 were also arrested in Vosloorus for allegedly being involved in the killing of Shabalala.

“During a search three firearms were recovered including one Z88 pistol belonging to the deceased police sergeant. They along with the previously arrested trio face charges of murder, kidnapping and car hijacking,” said Nkwalase.

Uyinene’s murder we launched the Help! Don’t Harm! campaign and pledged to help change the future of South Africa,” Rademeyer says. The campaign has so far raised more than R6.3 million for social upliftment initiatives through the sale of masks and fashion merchandise.

“We are pleased that there are initiatives such as these and we hope that it helps reshape the minds of boys into what real masculinity is. We believe that all boys, and men, should be comfortable expressing their emotions in healthy ways, and be taught what it means to be a good man. That means standing up for what is right, displaying a righteous character and becoming the role model that so many boys in the country need,” Rademeyer adds. Markham has urged other corporates to join the fight against GBV by partnering with the initiative.

This is the first tool, called TRFilter, available to journalists and media practitioners to document and manage online abuse, enabling them to regain control of their social media feeds, take action against perpetrators and protect their well-being.

Developed in partnership with Google’s Jigsaw, TRFilter syncs with the user’s Twitter account and uses machine learning technology to automatically recognise and flag harmful comments. It limits journalists’ exposure to abusive content by allowing them to hide comments and block or mute accounts at scale, without reviewing the content. The tool also allows users to create reports to download and share with third parties as needed, for example their employer or law enforcement. While many journalists are harassed in deliberate efforts to control the free flow of information, women are disproportionately affected. Nearly three-quarters of women journalists have expe-

Cops to deal with road transgressors

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Traffic Police has vowed to intensity operations on major routes in an effort to deal with traffic transgressors.

Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said: “Gauteng Traffic Police will lead a series of road safety activations and operations across the province in order to save lives, and will ensure that all drivers who conduct themselves with impunity are detained.”

The police undertaking followed the recent arrest of two men who were allegedly speeding at an average of 130 to 134 kilometres per hour on a prescribed speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour. The men aged 58 and 45 were arrested during an operation conducted along the N12 freeway in the Western corridor and were detained at Bekkersdal police station. rienced online violence; threats include physical and sexual violence, and even death threats.

“It is unfortunate that drivers continue to put the lives of road users at risk through reckless and negligent driving. We urge drivers to always comply with the rules and regulations of the road in order to save lives,” Maremane said.

Many road fatalities the Gauteng province continues to record is due to vehicles that are not road worthy, unsafe overtaking, overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and general disregard of the rules of the road or road traffic sign among others, he said.

Last year, TRF partnered with UNESCO, the International Women’s Media Foundation and the International News Safety Institute to develop a range of practical and legal tools for journalists, media managers and newsrooms to address the challenges and strengthen responses to online and offline harassment.

In addition to English, new versions of these guides have been made available in Russian, Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

This barrage of abuse, intended to discredit or silence journalists, can take a significant toll on the victims, impacting their mental health, affecting their physical well-being and leading to selfcensorship.

“The tool will empower journalists and media practitioners targeted by online violence around the world. The Foundation’s extensive experience of collaboration with global partners, combined with our ability to leverage the twin engines of media and the law, places us at the centre of international expertise to support media freedom and defend human rights. We will continue to protect journalists and the future of independent media, to strengthen free, fair and informed societies,” Zappulla adds.