In
a recent article by Samantha Parrish, published in the December issue of Longevity Magazine, she relieves a
shocking fact: “the current statistics suggest that a person is violated or
abused in this country every 17 seconds.” Another shocking fact is that a “rape is
reported every eight minutes… One in three women in South Africa WILL BE raped.
One. In. Three.” Are you shocked? The thing that scares me the most is that we,
as a country, have become so accustomed to all the crimes that go on in our
country. This is an everyday occurrence, and too often we turn a deaf ear and
thank the heavens that it hasn’t happened to us, or to someone close to us.
What kind of mentality have we adopted? Often, I have wondered what I could do
to help the situation? How can I make a difference?
On
November 21st, I found myself in the beautiful Cupola suite of the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton.
Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery, 33 stories above the rest of
Johannesburg, and beautiful people. We all gathered to take a stand together against crime in South Africa.
Blow the Whistle was launched by
Legacy Lifestyle and 5FM DJ Sureshnie Rider and is supported by the SABC
Foundation, South African celebrities such as Zuraida Jardine, Gareth Cliff, Zakeeya
Patel, Gary Player, Farah Fortune, Fix Moeti, DJ Milkshake, Kurt Darren, James
Small, Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Ryk Neethling and many others. The organisation
not only endeavors to create awareness around crime in South Africa, but also
aims to inspire the citizens of this country to take a stand together.
By
now, I am sure that many of you are accustomed to the brutal gang rape,
mutilation, and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen (Learn more about Anene's story) in the Western Cape. This was the very
incident that “incited both Sureshnie and Legacy Lifestyle into action… ‘Knowing
that she lay alone in the dark for hours,
frightened, and in unimaginable pain, made us all see things differently. We
wondered if her life could have been saved if she had a whistle to blow.” To which the decision was made “let’s do it”
remarks Legacy’s Bart Dorrestein.”
Something
that still resonates with me today is what was said on the night, “we,
good, law-abiding citizens, are in the majority, and yet the criminals who are
in the minority have such a hold on us, why should this be?” I completely agree
with this statement hence my pledge to Blow
the Whistle’s cause.
Blow the
Whistle is a registered non-profit organisation that is actively trying to
make a difference in South Africa. There are three main aspects of this
organisation which includes the production and retail of coloured whistles
which are on sale at all Legacy Hotels (http://www.legacyhotels.co.za)
and all Cross Trainer Stores in South Africa; the website and mobile app
whereby citizens are encouraged to register as an active supporter of this
organisation through pledging to BLOW THE WHISTLE.
The mobile app is available for free download (www.whistle.co.za), and the way it works is
as follows:
You, as the user, nominate four trusted and reliable
people to watch over you while you are alone or travelling. The app “allows the user to select
their destination and estimated time of arrival” which is valuable information
for the guardians to keep track of your location. “If the allocated time runs
out, the app prompts the user to enter a security code to stop or to extend the
trip. When the code is not entered, or if it’s entered incorrectly three times,
a notification is sent to the guardians along with the user’s coordinates. This
app is also equipped with a ‘panic button’. In this, way at any stage, the user can use the app to
alert their guardians of their need for help by using the panic button
function.
I
really do think that is innovative organisation, and all that it stands for,
will be successful should the citizens of this country stand together and
support one another. We all have been affected by crime whether it is directly
or indirectly. Let us stand together to make a difference. Let us stand
together to take back OUR country. Let us stand together to put a stop to crime. Together we can make a difference. Take the first step
towards a better South Africa by pledging to this cause today.
In
order to show your support or to find out more, visit www.whistle.co.za.
Twitter
@whistleSAwww.whistle.co.za
Facebook
/whistles
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