Community called on to break the cycle of abuse
Communities and organisations kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women and Children last week.
The annual campaign runs from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until December 10, which is Human Rights Day and calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls and to bring awareness to the issue.
The latest national quarterly crime statistics released by the South African Police Service last week revealed that 13 701 women were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between July and September 2022. This amounted to a 15.9 % increase from the same period last year. The stats also showed that 1 277 women had been victims of attempted murder, a 10.6 % increase from last year and 989 women had been murdered during this reporting period, an increase of 10.3 %. In addition to this, more than 10 000 rape cases had been registered with the police between July and September, an increase of 10.8%.
Vrygrond non-profit organisaton Where Rainbows Meet hosted a GBV talk on Saturday November 26 and discussed gender-based violence with seniors.
Referring to the statistics relating to crimes against women, Mymoena Scholtz, founder of Where Rainbows Meet, asked “what does it mean to us as women, when we see the stats where 108 were raped per day (and) 989 brutal murders (took place) over a period of three months in South Africa?”
Ms Scholtz said: “We are not safe as the risk of being murdered and raped in your own home is becoming more and more dangerous. Women are a target.
“We are not safe to walk the streets nor to go out at night. Whether it be to relax or just to unwind we are not safe. It is a scary way to live knowing that you can be brutally murdered in your own home by the very people that must protect you.”
Ms Scholtz added that there were many children abusing their parents but the “parents feel helpless not knowing there is help out there for them and that they should feel free to come to us and we will assist them”.
Ms Scholtz invited seniors to attend the talk. “I had a small session with our seniors and already cases of abuse were reported one after the other. A senior got up and called me one side saying ‘I know of a woman that is being abused but don't want to talk or don't want the support’.”
Ms Schotz said gender-based violence was “a reality in our country”.
“And if we do not change this as women we will all be doomed. The time to rise and unite is now. Therefore the call for a mass protest is needed as our president seems to turn a blind eye to this reality. Let us all work harder to combat this challenge and make sure our country becomes safer for all,” said Ms Scholtz.
Zelda Manuel, founder of Moving Forward Community Youth organisation, based in Parkwood, and Grassy Park SAPS collaborated to present a 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children event, at Galvanic church, in Grassy Park, on Thursday November 24.
Colonel Dawood Laing, station commander of Grassy Park SAPS, spoke about the effect abuse had on children. “When God created Adam and Eve, He created Eve from Adam’s rib. For this reason He created us equal, each with a special role.”
Colonel Laing also made an urgent appeal to the community to break the chain of abuse.
He said: “If I raise a boy child and he sees me abusing his mother and she is okay with it, he will become an abuser. And if I raise a girl child, she will be a victim of abuse. Break the cycle.”
Ms Manuel performed a spiritual dance to the song I know who I am, to express to women and children that they must “be who they are, not to tolerate abuse and take their power back”.
Commenting on her outfit, Ms Manuel said “the black top represents mourning for women and children who lost their lives in abuse (and) the white skirt represented that there is still light for women and children to get out of abuse”.
If anyone witnesses abuse or if anyone has been abused contact Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust at 021 447 1467 or MOSAIC at 021 761 7585.
If an abused person wants to seek help contact Ms Scholtz on 021 205 3496 and they will be referred to the Department of Social Development.