Thu Jun 19 09:10:00 UTC 2014
A self-defence road show with the aim of empowering women with basic skills of self-protection is about to kick off in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, former hometown of Anene Booysen whose brutal rape and murder just over a year ago caught the world’s attention.
On 21 June 2014, Shoprite, in collaboration with Sanette Smit and her team of self-defence instructors, will be commencing the road show which will afford 1 200 women throughout 12 Western Cape communities the opportunity to attend a three hour workshop free of charge.
Scottish singer-songwriter and well-known international social activist and philanthropist, Annie Lennox, had the following to say in support of the campaign: “I think this is an excellent initiative and I heartily endorse and appreciate what the team at the Shoprite Stay Safe Self-defence Road Show are doing!”
The team will be training 100 women per workshop between June 2014 and May 2015 and registration details for the workshops will be advertised in local community newspapers and on local radio stations.
Bredasdorp was selected for the launch event as a tribute to the memory of Anene Booysen whose brutal attack in February 2013 led to an international outcry against the level of violence against women.
The team, led by Sanette Smit, an 8th Dan karateka and acclaimed self-defence practitioner of more than 30 years standing, will travel to Oudtshoorn, George, Beaufort West, Piketberg, Atlantis, Vredendal, Macassar, Ceres, Lentegeur , Khayelitsha and Fish Hoek spreading the message that women may defend themselves. The workshops will serve as the platform for teaching the women how to become more aware of potential threats to their personal safety and how they can equip themselves with invaluable self-protection techniques.
Shoprite is committed to the safety of all women of South Africa and their support of this initiative show will make self-protection methods more accessible to women and allow them to better cope in communities where violent attacks on women have become commonplace.
The Bredasdorp workshop will be held at the Community Sports Hall, also known as “Die Glaskasteel” on the corner of Recreation and Church Streets on Saturday, 21 June 2014 from 13:00 - 16:00 with registration commencing at 12:30. The registration forms as well as the entry box for bookings will be available at the Bredasdorp Usave store. For more information please contact the Self-Defence Office on 021 461 0036 from 14:00 daily or via email margaret@selfdefence.co.za or smit@selfdefence.co.za.