With thousands upon thousands of protection orders in place and not enough policemen to enforce it, domestic violence is endemic in Kraaifontein.
According to crime statistics up to and including January this year, Kraaifontein topped the national list of the most-reported domestic-violence cases in the country, according to WO Louise Strydom, Kraaifontein police’s social-crime prevention and gender-based violence coordinator.
“But not all crimes against women and children are reported and we know that the actual number of crimes is much higher than the reported number,” she told TygerBurger last week.
Crime against women include murder, assault, rape and other sexual offences.
With 38 reported cases of rape between April and June, Kraaifontein has the third-highest rape number in the province.
Strydom said although thousands of cases are reported, much of them are withdrawn afterwards as women are financially dependent on their husbands, situations that expose their children to more violence. “Yet, every protection order granted by the court has to be served by a policeman within 24 hours after the complainant appeared in court as per amendments made to domestic violence legislation. This is expecting miracles from and already understaffed police force. “The same amendments will also allow for children living in violent households to obtain protection orders. Crimes against women and children are horrendous in Kraaifontein, as is the crime rate against the LGBTQ community,” Strydom said.
GBV can include sexual, physical, mental and economic harm inflicted in public or in private.
Citing the United Nations Populations Fund (UNPF), Strydom sid GBV is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world.
“It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime. GBV undermines the health, security, dignity and autonomy of its victims, yet remains shrouded in silence.”
Know your rights
Strydom was a guest speaker at a recent event of the Not in My Town campaign against gender-based violence, femicide, domestic violence as well as corruption, fraud and gangsterism.
The initiative was launched by local cleric and head of the TWM Foundation Reverend Tanelle Welff-Dixon in collaboration with Kraaifontein police and the Cape Garden Centre.
To celebrate Heritage Month, 20 women from the greater Kraaifontein area were treated with a high tea at Bamboo restaurant.
Strydom endorsed how a campaign such as Not in my Town could make a big difference if women and children knew their rights and encouraged them to speak out against abuse in their communities.
Welff-Dixon, the project champion, reminded everyone of the rich South African heritage and how many had suffered in the struggle against apartheid, some making the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms and rights enjoyed today. She also encouraged real empowerment for women, which she believed could make a real difference in communities.
The In Christ United team, a project of the TWM Foundation, also attended in celebration of the occasion.
Further empowerment events were planned in the future and those interested in supporting the fight again GBVF are welcome to contact Rev Tanelle Welff-Dixon via email, info@twmfoundation.org.za
