Indlezana Yezwe

07/10/2026

🚨 CHILD TRAFFICKING IS A CRIME — OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE! 🚨
As we observe Trafficking in Human Beings Awareness Month, Indlezana Yezwe calls on communities, families, parents, caregivers and all South Africans to stand together against the trafficking and exploitation of children.
Children can be trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging, illegal adoption, organ trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Trafficking can happen anywhere — and perpetrators often take advantage of vulnerability, poverty, trust and desperation.
🟣 Protect our children.
🟡 Know the warning signs.
🟣 Talk to children about their safety.
🟡 Do not ignore suspicious behaviour.
🟣 Report suspected trafficking immediately.
📢 SEE SOMETHING. SAY SOMETHING. REPORT!
If you suspect that a child is being trafficked or exploited, contact SAPS Crime Stop: 086 00 10111 (24 hours) or the Department of Social Development: 0800 428 428. You can also approach your nearest police station or child protection services.
At Indlezana Yezwe, we believe that every child has the right to safety, dignity, protection, freedom and a childhood free from exploitation.
Together, we can stop child trafficking. Together, we can protect our children. Together, we can build safer communities. 💜
Children are not for sale. Children are our future. 👧🏽👦🏽🧒🏽

Sukuthula GBV Initiative
South African Police Service
The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa
Cape Missing Persons
End GBVF Collective

30/09/2026

30/09/2026

🔵 DEAF AWARENESS MONTH | AMPLIFYING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN & CHILDREN 🔵

Indlezana Yezwe was honoured to participate in an important Deaf Awareness Month event hosted by OR O.R Tambo District Municipality, in partnership with the Deaf Association Forum in OR Tambo.

The event provided an important platform to promote inclusion, equality and the protection of the rights of Deaf persons within our communities.

✊🏾 Indlezana Yezwe spoke on:

⚖️ The rights of women and children, including their right to live free from violence, abuse and discrimination.

👩🏾‍🦯 Access to justice for Deaf women and children – highlighting the barriers that Deaf survivors may experience when reporting violence and seeking assistance from the criminal justice system.

🚨 Reporting GBVF cases – emphasising that Deaf persons must have accessible, safe and confidential mechanisms to report Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and receive appropriate support.

🏛️ The role of the State – calling for stronger measures to ensure that police stations, courts, healthcare facilities and other justice-sector institutions have appropriate sign-language interpretation, accessible communication and disability-responsive services.

Every person has the right to be heard, understood and protected.

Disability must never become a barrier to justice.

🤝🏾 Let us build communities where Deaf women and children are protected, respected and able to access justice on an equal basis.

📢 CALL TO ACTION

We call on government departments, justice-sector institutions, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and communities to work together to:

✅ Make GBVF reporting mechanisms accessible to Deaf persons.
✅ Strengthen access to qualified sign-language interpreters.
✅ Ensure Deaf survivors are treated with dignity and confidentiality.
✅ Educate communities about the rights of persons with disabilities.
✅ Create safer and more inclusive pathways to justice.

Nothing about us without us.

💙 Creating safer, inclusive and protected communities.













End GBVF Collective
Sukuthula GBV Initiative

30/09/2026

🕊️ PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF THE MBUTHO GBVF TRAGEDY 🕊️

Indlezana Yezwe, in partnership with OR O.R Tambo District Municipality , Tsolo Community Policing Forum (CPF) and South African Police Service , hosted a special prayer and healing programme in solidarity with the victims and families affected by the tragic cases of gender-based violence and femicide in Mbutho Village, Tsolo.

Between November 2025 and February 2026, five women tragically lost their lives after being subjected to r**e and murder. Their lives, their families and the wider community have been deeply affected by this devastating violence.

🙏🏾 We remember the victims.
🙏🏾 We stand with their families.
🙏🏾 We pray for healing and strength.
🙏🏾 We commit ourselves to building safer communities where women and girls can live free from violence.

This prayer formed part of the ongoing work following the launch of Tsolo as a GBVF-Free Zone and the training of community members and CPF structures on GBVF prevention, community safety and appropriate responses to GBVF cases.

The programme contributes to the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), particularly:

🔹 Pillar 2 – Prevention and Social Cohesion: Strengthening communities, promoting social cohesion and addressing the social conditions that enable GBVF.

🔹 Pillar 4 – Response, Care, Support and Healing: Supporting survivors, families and communities affected by GBVF and creating spaces for healing and recovery.

📢 COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION: LET US ALL TAKE A STAND AGAINST GBVF

Ending gender-based violence is everyone’s responsibility.

As the people of Tsolo and surrounding communities, let us:

🤝🏾 Speak up when we see or hear about GBVF — do not remain silent.

🚨 Report cases of violence and abuse to SAPS, the CPF or appropriate support services. Do not protect perpetrators through silence.

🛡️ Protect women, children and other vulnerable members of our community and take concerns about their safety seriously.

👥 Join and strengthen community structures working to prevent GBVF, including CPF, community organisations, faith-based structures and other local initiatives.

❤️ Support survivors and affected families with compassion, dignity and without victim-blaming.

📚 Learn how to respond to GBVF cases safely and appropriately and share this knowledge with others.

🕯️ Stand together as a community to challenge attitudes, behaviours and practices that normalise violence against women and girls.

LET US TURN OUR PRAYERS INTO ACTION.
LET US TURN OUR PAIN INTO PURPOSE.
LET US BUILD A TSOLO THAT IS SAFE, UNITED AND FREE FROM GBVF.

🕯️ May the souls of the five women rest in peace. May their families find strength and healing. May their lives never be forgotten.

Together, we can build safer, protected and GBVF-free communities.
















Sukuthula GBV Initiative
End GBVF Collective

10/09/2026

🕊️ FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE GROUND: FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE

09/09/2026, Sipezini Village, Lusikisiki, became a place of dialogue, healing and hope as communities and stakeholders came together at the Chief’s homestead to find a lasting resolution to the conflict between Mapheleni and Mjikalale villages.

The programme was honoured by the presence of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality Mayor, Hon. Prepping, and Amampondo Acting King Sigcau, alongside traditional leaders, government departments, law-enforcement agencies, faith-based leaders and civil society.

Following our separate community consultations, yesterday marked an important step forward: bringing people together to listen, understand, forgive and choose peace.

The Criminal Justice Cluster was present to engage directly with community members and provide awareness on crime prevention, reporting of crimes and how the justice process works. We were joined by representatives from NPA, SAPS, Department of Correctional Services, Department of Health, SASSA and Home Affairs, with Home Affairs providing services through its Services on Wheels programme.

The intervention brought together:

🤝🏾 Indlezana Yezwe
🤝🏾 O.R Tambo District Municipality
🤝🏾 Ingquza Hill Local Municipality
🤝🏾 LGBVF COMBAT
🤝🏾 South African Police Service
🤝🏾 The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa
🤝🏾 Department of Correctional Services and Eastern Cape Department of Social Development
🤝🏾 Department of Health
🤝🏾 SASSA
🤝🏾 Home Affairs
🤝🏾 Council of Churches
🤝🏾 Traditional Leaders

🕊️ THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Perhaps the most powerful outcome of the day was the resolution by the two communities to forgive one another, make peace and work towards living together in a safe and peaceful environment.

This is more than a resolution—it is a commitment to choosing life over violence, dialogue over conflict and unity over division.

We left Sipezini with a happy community, renewed hope and a shared commitment to peace. ❤️🕊️

But the work does not end here. Building safer communities requires continued engagement, accountability, prevention and support.

When communities speak, stakeholders must listen.
When communities hurt, we must respond.
And when communities choose peace, we must stand with them.

From the boardroom to the ground.
From consultation to action.
From conflict to dialogue.
From fear to safety.
From division to peace. ✊🏾🕊️

Indlezana Yezwe — Creating Safer and Protected Communities.


End GBVF Collective
Sukuthula GBV Initiative

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE GROUND: BUILDING SAFER & PROTECTED COMMUNITIES 🤝🏾🕊️

Indlezana Yezwe, in partnership with O.R Tambo District Municipality, LGBVF COMBAT, South African Police Service , Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, Department of Social Development, The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, Department of Health and the Church Council, is taking the fight for safer communities from the boardroom to the ground.

Our intervention in Mapheleni, Mjikalale and Siphezini villages in Lusikisiki seeks to address the ongoing conflict between Mapheleni and Mjikalale communities following the tragic murder of a young woman from Mapheleni. The circumstances surrounding her death, including allegations involving her boyfriend from Mjikalale, resulted in escalating tensions between the two villages.

What began with grief and allegations tragically escalated into further violence, including the murder of the alleged boyfriend and the burning of his home. The continued conflict has placed the lives and safety of innocent community members at risk, threatening social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

We cannot build safer communities while communities remain divided by fear, anger and unresolved conflict.

That is why Indlezana Yezwe and OR Tambo District Municipality went directly to the communities—engaging with Mapheleni and Mjikalale separately, listening to residents, understanding the root causes of the conflict, identifying community concerns and exploring pathways towards peace, justice, accountability and healing.

Our approach is simple but powerful:

🕊️ Listen to communities.
🤝🏾 Bring stakeholders together.
⚖️ Strengthen access to justice and protection.
❤️ Support healing and social cohesion.
👥 Prevent further violence.
🏘️ Build safer and protected communities.

The intervention also recognises the importance of Siphezini and surrounding communities in creating a broader environment of safety, prevention and community resilience.

We believe that sustainable solutions cannot remain in boardrooms. Policies, plans and strategies must reach the people they are intended to serve.

From the boardroom to the ground. From policy to action. From conflict to dialogue. From fear to safety.

Indlezana Yezwe remains committed to working alongside communities and government and civil society partners to prevent Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), strengthen community safety, promote human rights and build communities where everyone can live without fear.

Creating safer and protected communities is not a one-day intervention—it is a collective commitment. ✊🏾🕊️
















End GBVF Collective
Sukuthula GBV Initiative

07/08/2026

INDLEZANA YEZWE | MINISTERIAL GBVF IMBIZO

Indlezana Yezwe was honoured to receive an invitation from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, to participate in the Ministerial GBVF Imbizo held in Nyandeni Local Municipality in partnership with Her Majesty Queen Ndamase and the Ndamase Royal Household.

The Imbizo brought together traditional leadership, government departments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and community members to strengthen collective efforts in the fight against the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
Eastern Cape Office of the Premier
As Indlezana Yezwe, we welcome this approach of actively involving traditional leaders in GBVF prevention and response. Traditional leaders play a vital role in influencing communities, promoting respect for human rights, protecting women and children, and ensuring that harmful practices and violence are not tolerated.
Ending GBVF requires a whole-of-society approach where government, traditional institutions, civil society, faith-based organisations and communities work together to create safer communities for all.

We thank the Minister of The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ & CD) and the Ndamase Royal Household for creating this important platform for dialogue, accountability and partnership. Together, we can build communities where women, children and all vulnerable groups live free from violence and fear.


Sukuthula GBV Initiative
DGMT
Nyandeni Local Municipality

06/08/2026

Indlezana Yezwe | Stakeholder Engagement at Tabase, Jumba Traditional Council

On 3 August 2026, Indlezana Yezwe joined government departments, SAPS, traditional leadership, schools, community stakeholders and residents at KwaNobuhle High School, Tabase, following an invitation from the Jumba Traditional Council, to address the growing concern over reported r**e incidents in the area.

The engagement focused on protecting school children and the wider community from perpetrators of gender-based violence. Learners and community members were encouraged to report abuse, remain vigilant, and work together to create safer communities.

During the meeting, SAPS provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the reported cases involving the suspect known as "Vaseline". The police also informed the community that unlicensed taverns operating near the school have been closed, as part of efforts to improve the safety of learners and reduce crime in the area.
The stakeholders agreed on several practical strategies to strengthen the protection of children, including:
Strengthening community vigilance and reporting mechanisms.
Improving collaboration between schools, parents, traditional leadership, SAPS and community organisations.
Raising awareness on the prevention of gender-based violence and the protection of children.
Supporting survivors and ensuring access to justice and victim support services.

Indlezana Yezwe remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that women and children live free from violence, fear and abuse. Together, we can build safer communities where every child is protected and every survivor is supported.


Sukuthula GBV Initiative
Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety
Khula EC with Majola
South African Police Service
End GBVF Collective

19/06/2026

CAPACITATING OUR ELDERLY LEADERS ON GBVF AND HUMAN RIGHTS

On 18 June 2026, Indlezana Yezwe, in partnership with the OR Tambo District Municipality and the Mthatha Jersey ) Farm Advice Centre, successfully facilitated a capacity-building training for the OR Tambo District Elderly Forum on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and Human Rights.

The training focused on the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF, equipping elderly forum members with knowledge and practical understanding of their role in preventing and responding to gender-based violence within their communities. Participants also engaged on key human rights principles, community advocacy, and the importance of protecting vulnerable groups.

We were honoured to have representation from all local municipalities within the OR Tambo District, namely:
📍 Ingquza Hill Local Municipality
📍 Port St Johns Local Municipality
📍 Nyandeni Local Municipality
📍 Mhlontlo Local Municipality
📍 King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality

The active participation and commitment demonstrated by the elderly forum members reaffirm the critical role that older persons play as community leaders, advocates, and agents of social change.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the OR Tambo District Municipality and the Mthatha Jesrsy Farm Advice Centre for their collaboration and commitment to building safer, more informed, and rights-based communities.

Together, we continue to strengthen community action against GBVF and promote the protection of human rights for all.


Sukuthula GBV Initiative
DGMT
O.R Tambo District Municipality
End GBVF Collective