AS part of global campaign against rape, initiative of One Billion Rising (OBR), the community of Bonteheuwel took to the street in solidarity against this "heinous" crime before heading to town distributing a pledge form with other anti-rape organizations that will form its memorandum on Thursday 14.

Led by OBR's Western Cape coordinator Zubeida Shaik, they sang and carried placards that read "no rape". Shaik said the protest was part of a global campaign where men and women from 13 000 organisations with 7 000 events were rising to put a stop to rape.

"The United Nations has reported that one in three women will be raped in her lifetime. We are here to represent each one of those. Government must implement laws that will deal with heinous crime effectively. MPs should visit the police stations where rape is reported frequently. We want more action that will bring a meaningful change to the communities. That is why we are starting our protest here," she said.

The Bonteheuwel community leader and parliamentary official Anthea Abrahams said it was important to start such campaigns in the townships because that is where the victims and perpetrators are. She said the area is among those with highest rape statics but was not "reported as the victims fear for more victimization".

Pastor Phillip Voegt of the Bonteheuwel Churches in Action urged the religious fraternity to help rid the society of the social ills. "We fully support OBR in this initiative. We are strongly against these immoral and heinous crimes against women and children. We are appealing to both Christians and Muslims to address social concerns on their pulpits," he said.