Francesca Villette
FOUR policemen have set off on a motorbike tour of 14 Western Cape towns to raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence.
It is their contribution to the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, say Brigadier Andre Lincoln, Warrant Officer Andries Douglas, Warrant Officer Martin Schutte and Sergeant Allan van Zyl.
They took off from Samora Machel police station yesterday on sponsored motorbikes and will stay overnight at municipal campsites during the 16-day campaign, starting in Paarl and ending in Kleinvlei.
They will concentrate on empowering women and children in rural farming communities, where the high rate of alcohol abuse has made them particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse. “We will focus on illegal shebeens and the illegal manufacture of alcohol,” said Lincoln.
The officers will inform communities of their rights in the criminal justice system, of free court services and also promote responsible public participation.