By Staff Reporter
In celebrating the last holy communion for the year, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimberley took the opportunity to close the 16 days of no gender-based violence campaign.
The resident steward, Reverend JS Morake, remarked that gender-based violence is a societal illness and some perpetrators are staunch church members, including men of the cloth. Hence it fitted for the church to collaborate with other stakeholders in hosting this service.
A Champion against gender-based violence and femicide from the Desk of the Status of Women in the Premier’s Office, Ellen Laban, passionately gave insight into her office’s functions.
Laban reminded citizens about their roles and responsibilities towards their communities, “if it does not happen in your house, don’t look away if it happens next door,” she lamented. She shared her sentiment against communities who feel that perpetrators should be castrated, “what if it is your child”? she asked. She encouraged family members to pray together because “there is no way that a child will go out and do heinous deeds after praying.”
A survivor, Tracy Goeiman, narrated her ordeal two years ago when she was kidnapped while driving in Hulana Street. The two unknown men later raped her. The brave young woman said, “what happens to you does not define who you are, be the queen that you are,” she told other survivors.
The atmosphere got tenser when Apostle Shain Griqua, founder of Shaina Griqua Advice and Development Center in Colville shared the pain that he went through as a young boy in the hands of men. He told congregants that his father was an alcoholic. Shane was teased by being a “moffie” and often molested from an early age, plus his two uncles and some church elders.
“Don’t boast about how God stopped storms in your life but turn out to be a storm to others,” warned Shane. He describes the work that he is doing at the center, including counseling gay and lesbian children from his perpetrators. “I am at peace because I chose to forgive all those who wronged me. We are five siblings and I am taking care of my ailing father to the extend of cleaning and changing his catered,” mentioned Shane to the horrified congregants.
“I had to be crushed like a grape to be brewed and become a nice and sweet wine. Parents, love your children unconditionally,” concluded Shane.
The Acting Programme Manager Communicable Diseases Control for Department of Health, Gloria Hottie, urged the public to adhere to Covid-19 regulations and change their behaviour to curb the pandemic’s scourge. She shared information on how scientists discovered that the virus has evolved and the new strength is multiplying rapidly. She urged people to comply with regulations as this will also assist in taking care of the Health Workers because they are exhausted. “When you are exhausted, your immune system is compromised; this makes you susceptible to viruses,” added Gloria.
Reverend Goeiman delivered the sermon, also dabbing on his personal experience when he was involved in a road accident twenty years ago. Doctors declared that he would never walk again. “Here I am today, through the grace,” he said.
A community activist, Gregory Nyongane, pledged 40 uniforms for Grade 3 underprivileged children. He started the project on January 12years ago when he met a grandmother who lost money. Since then, he donates some of his bonus to buy school uniform. He requested men to join him in this project. A hand over service will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church on 17 January 2021, a day after his birthday.
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