SAPS, socks and a serious message in Kimberley’s CBD

KIMBERLEY police officers this week swapped their regulation black boots for something far brighter — happy socks — and marched through the city centre with a message that’s no laughing matter: ending gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

On September 10, members of the Kimberley SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit kicked off their “Happy Socks Campaign” with a lively walk from the Phelophepa Health Train at Kimberley Station, winding their way through the CBD with placards, pamphlets and a good dose of sock-powered spirit.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock explained that the initiative was about catching people’s attention in a way that sparks conversations. And it worked — shoppers, commuters and clinic visitors stopped to chat with officers, who handed out safety tips and reminded residents how to report abuse or support someone they know.

The team went beyond waving placards. They held one-on-one conversations at taxi ranks, shopping centres and clinics, making sure the message was loud, clear and personal: GBVF is not just a crime, it’s a scourge that demands action from everyone.

The campaign managed to be playful yet purposeful. The cheerful socks made people smile — but the police also carried a hard truth with them. They made it clear that they “will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for children, women and all vulnerable groups”.

Captain Keitumetse Semetsa, acting commander of the Kimberley FCS unit, put it in words that summed up the campaign’s heartbeat: “If you see something, say something! Together we can end GBVF!”