The Chatsworth Police and a faith-based organisation took to the airwaves to highlight the growing and scary scourge of gender-based violence in communities.
In the studio at Highway Radio were Chatsworth SAPS spokeswoman Captain Cheryl Pillay and Pastor Anita Ramdhanie of Word of Hope Ministries, both encouraging women and the girl-child to use the effective tools of courage, faith and communication to address GBV, now a frightening local and national trend.
The radio interview was a collaboration between the police and faith-based organisations to also encourage spiritual grace to empower women to break free from abuse and domestic violence.
Cpt Pillay shared this with listeners: “I encourage women to choose courage over comfort and faith over fear. Gender-based violence refers to all acts perpetrated against women, men, boys, girls, members of the LGBTQI community based on their sex that cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or economic harm, including the threat to carry out such harm.
“It is violence that targets individuals or groups of individuals based on their gender and discrimination that seriously the victims ability to enjoy their rights and freedom.”
Captain Pillay said the latest crime statistics released by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, was alarming on the number of sexual offences that have been reported at police stations.
She said: “This is twofold, it reveals that complainants are breaking their silence by reporting abuse that could also lead them to a path of healing. Gender-based violence is a deep-rooted problem and the South African Police Service is engaging with various governmental and non-governmental organisations to work as a collective to address the root causes of GBV.” In her contribution, Ramdhanie said that the church was also attempting to educate communities to rise up and eradicate violence against women and girls: “As a collective, we are committed to supporting women in all spheres of society to eradicate this scourge.
“Not everyone can attend workshops, or read written material about gender-based violence, or the avenues afforded by government to seek assistance. Highlighting the various legislations, such as the obtaining of protection orders, is educating and empowering for women. Victims can also be aware of the types of abuse and prevention thereof.”
Cpt Pillay has provided a toolkit for the community to recognise the red flags of violence within households and the community.
She said: “Police could further communities in defining a domestic relationship, identifying domestic violence and abuse and victims of abuse: A domestic relationship can be with someone you are or were married to, your parents or guardian or any family members, including your own children, or anyone you have lived with whether you were married to that person or not, your life partner of the same sex, someone you went out with, even for a short time, or had sex with or someone with whom you share a child.
“Domestic violence can be regarded through sexual, physical, emotional or economic abuse whether you are married or not, damage to property, stalking or any form of controlling behaviour.
“Victims of abuse have options as they have a right to be protected. They can apply for a protection order at their nearest magistrates court or lay a criminal charge at the police station which can range from assault common assault, GBH or attempted murder which depends on the serious of the offence. Victims could seek a protection order that is an order of the courts at the victim’s request, ordering a person with whom they have or had a domestic relationship to stop the abuse. It may also prevent the person from getting help from any other person to commit such acts. A protection order can also be issued at anytime time of the day or night to ensure your protection.
“Any victim can apply for a protection order and children who are too young to apply can have a parent or guardian act on their behalf.”
