Johannesburg mayor urges communities to fight gender-based violence — TimesLIVE
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero in South Africa called on communities to become more actively involved in the fight against gender-based violence. According to him, women and girls in the city still do not feel safe, even though Johannesburg is recognized as one of the world’s leading cities.
Morero made the statement on the first day of the Gauteng Spaza Shop Summit and Expo, a summit and exhibition for spaza shops, at the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg. As TimesLIVE reports, the mayor named safety as one of the city’s biggest challenges. He noted that the problem exists across Johannesburg, but is particularly acute in some communities.
Safety of women and girls
Morero called gender-based violence a painful reminder of one of the region’s greatest failures. He stressed that every woman has the right to move freely without fearing abduction, rape, or murder.
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The mayor also stated that the city cannot celebrate international recognition while its residents, especially women, live in fear. In his view, Johannesburg must intensify its efforts to become safer.
Call to men and communities
According to Morero, responsibility for combating gender-based violence cannot rest solely with the government. He called on men and boys to join this fight.
The mayor added that marches draw attention to the problem, but awareness alone is not enough. He called for action, accountability, and communities that will not tolerate violence. Morero expressed confidence that the problem can be overcome through joint efforts.
