The Wallacedene Community Police Forum and the ANC Women’s League have vowed to protest outside the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court today, Wednesday December 13, to oppose bail for three men accused of raping and killing an 18-year-old girl.
Police arrested the three men soon after Traceleen Boois’s body was found in an unfinished building in Luphuwana Street on Sunday December 3.
During a press conference at Kraaifontein police station last Friday, CPF chairman Mawethu Sila said there would also be a march on Friday to protest against the teen’s violent death.
“We have noticed that even though it is a 16 Days of Activism campaign, women and children are still raped and killed. And we urge the community particularly men to come up in numbers to support the march and send a strong message to the perpetrators.
“We want to break the silence against the abuse of women and children.
“We want men to stand up and say in one voice that enough is enough and let’s stop the killing of our women and children. Let’s say not in our name.”
He said Traceleen’s killers should rot in jail and the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign should run throughout the year and its front line should be in the home.
“Whatever you are doing in front of your children they will do it outside. If you steal in front of your children, they will grow up thinking that stealing is a good thing because they saw their father stealing and want to do the same,” he said.
CPF treasurer John Smidt urged church leaders to get more involved in breaking the cycle of violence against women and children.
ANCWL member Melissa Koli said men should not see women as sex objects.
“They must be protective of their families. As mothers we feel the pain, because we are the one who carried these children for nine months in our stomachs and even raised them. So, we can’t just sit as if nothing happened.”
She urged women to come in their numbers to picket outside court during the bail hearing.
Kraaifontein police station officer Captain Gerhard Niemand said police would be escorting the marchers on Friday.
The march will start in Maroela Road, next to the Tygerberg Raceway.