About 100 Young mothers gathered at the Lenasia South Civic Centre in Johannesburg on the 30 November 2020 to learn more about gender-based violence (GBV) and hopefully change their mindsets around the pandemic.
Queen Rabotapi-Kamanga, who was also a victim of GBV, presented the motivational session. She hosted the event in collaboration with her husband and another ordinary folk. The aim of the gathering was to empower the young mothers and help them start on a journey to turn their lives around.
When she was 16, Rabotapi-Kamanga had an abusive boyfriend who beat her up and verbally and emotionally abused her. “I was made to believe that I was not good enough. It was impossible for me to achieve my goals. I adapted to the fact that every time he abused and beat me up, he would make me believe that it was all my fault, and I would feel it was my fault.
She realized that he was not going to stop abusing her so she ended the relationship. Following the abuse, Rabotapi-Kamanga became stronger because she knew what she wanted. In support of the Lensia gathering, Johannesburg Emergency Services (JES) committed to providing teenage mothers with training to protect themselves against GBV.
Gospel musician Malesia Makhetha also supported the Lenasia South gathering initiative.“You need to accept who you are because sugar daddies are not an option. You need to love yourselves first and not dwell on mistakes such as having babies at a young age. Once you accept who you are, you will be able to handle rejection in all its forms, “she said.
Ntebogeng Molefi, one of the young mothers who attended the event said: “This event was an eye-opener”. Her biggest wish was to return to school and that her biggest takeaway from the event was the call for every young woman to be brave and speak out against GBV and other forms of abuse.
