According to Mogalakwena Municipal: The concept of an “Annual Festive and GBVF Prayer” is an emerging initiative in South Africa, often held during the festive season in alignment with the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) campaign.
During this period, communities and organizations across the country hold prayer gatherings, services and awareness activities focusing on safety, healing and the collective fight against GBVF.
The combination of festive season prayers and GBVF focused prayer sessions is deeply rooted in the reality that the festive season frequently sees an increase in contact crimes and domestic violence, which calls for strengthened awareness and intervention.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign, observed annually from 25 November to 10 December, provides a platform for intensified activism and faith based mobilisation.
Faith and community leaders therefore organise these gatherings to seek divine intervention, honour victims, support survivors and encourage societal unity against all forms of violence.
The Mogalakwena Local Municipality hosted a Festive Mass Prayer in collaboration with local communities, the South African Police Service, provincial and local traffic officials, interdenominational churches and faith based organisations, with the aim of confronting GBVF and promoting a safer festive season.
The community gathered(come out in numbers) in unity to call for safer roads and a tragedy free festive period.
The prayer session began at the N11 and R518 intersection before proceeding to the N1 Weighbridge, where community members, leaders and key stakeholders continued to pray for safer travels, fewer accidents and the protection of all road users.
The gathering highlighted the importance of unity, collective awareness and a shared commitment to reducing road fatalities as the festive season approaches.
In her address, Cllr Bryna Ngwenya emphasised that the purpose of the gathering was two-fold: to pray for safer roads and to confront the increasing cases of GBVF.
She expressed concern that the municipality continues to experience devastating road accidents, particularly along the N1, N11 and R518 routes, which many residents have come to label “killer roads.”
These routes serve as critical corridors linking Mokopane, Lephalale and Botswana, and are used daily by hundreds of road users.
The tragic loss of life witnessed on these roads is often the result of avoidable behaviour such as driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, reckless driving, cellphone use while driving and unroadworthy vehicles.
Cllr Ngwenya further stressed that government cannot ignore the painful and urgent challenge of gender based violence and femicide, noting that far too many women and children continue to live in fear as a result of violence that strips them of dignity and safety.
She concluded by acknowledging the vital role of the church and religious community, stating that when systems, policies and enforcement reach their limits, prayer becomes the force that reaches where nothing else can into the heart.
BY LUCKY SEANEGO
