Leotlela gives GBVF survivors a voice

Helping victims break their silence and access support has remained at the heart of Charmaine Mangaka Leotlela’s fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The Vereeniging activist began serving her community as a volunteer with the Department of Community Safety’s Women as Safety Promoter (WASP) programme.

In 2020, she joined the department’s GBVF Brigades Ambassador Programme and was later appointed a team leader at Meyerton Police Station. She led a group of between three and nine women working across Sicelo, Jantien, Nelsonia Plots and Henley on Klip.

Their work focused on educating residents, raising awareness about domestic violence, supporting victims and encouraging those experiencing abuse to seek assistance.

“Through our campaigns and community events, we created platforms where victims could open up about the challenges and experiences they were facing in their homes and communities,” Leotlela said.

She worked closely with Meyerton SAPS Social Crime Prevention and Crime Prevention to strengthen these interventions.

Leotlela credited Constables Moloi, Zazini and Dlomo; Warrant Officers Mohlapholi and Nhlapo; Superintendent Godole; Mathapelo Rantsie; the Department of Traffic; Midvaal Fire Department; and PRO for supporting the programmes.

Meyerton SAPS currently operates under acting station commander Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Christiaan Fredericks De Winnaar.

Leotlela believes reducing GBVF requires government departments, police, community organisations and residents to work together instead of treating abuse as a private household matter.

“I am proud of the work we have done together and remain committed to fighting GBVF, empowering victims and building safer communities for everyone,” she said.