Don’t keep quiet, 16 Days of activism launched in Kalfontein, Kuils River

Kuils River police held an awareness programme at the Kalkfontein community hall last Wednesday ahead of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (25 November to 10 December).

Domestic violence often happens behind closed doors but those who become aware of it should help to bring it out in the open.

Do not keep quiet.

This was among the key messages shared at an awareness programme hosted by Kuils River police at the Kalkfontein community hall last Wednesday ahead of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (25 November to 10 December).

Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair, Faisel Martin, talked about the CPF’s role to ensure a partnership between community and police, to improve communication and service rendered by police to the community.

“The worst thing that can happen to a woman who has put the courage together to come to the police station to report abuse, is for some reason to decide not to lay a charge. It has been proven so many times, the abuse becomes worse.”

Martin said part of the CPF‘s mandate is to support the community.

“But we cannot bring change if we don’t have the involvement of the broader community. We should not lose hope, but we can only achieve change if we step up and come forward to bring that change.”

Metro East Education Department social workers from left: Lorraine Waterboer, Samantha Williams, Elvera Swartz and Janice Cozett shared insight into the work they do at schools.

Cpt Carol Jordaan (FCS unit), Jolene de Water, Chantelle Wessels, Joscelyn Beukes, and Sgt Nicky Willemse (domestic violence and victim support coordinator).

Members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, from left; Cpt Cecile Adams, Athi Marawu, Andrea Titus (nurse and manager, Graceful Care Unlimited), Rukeya Rhoda, and Cpt Benice Hendricks.

From left: Antoinette Meiring (City of Cape Town), Ebrahim Sawant (ward councillor), WO Liesel Beukes (programme director), Danica Dampies and Chantell Lotz (Badisa Kuils River).

Amendments

Court manager of Kuils River court, Nyaniso Desha shared insights on some of the amendments to the Domestic Violence Act that came into effect in April this year.

The new act has broadened what can be defined as domestic violence. He pointed out that youngsters abusing elderly relatives, and abuse of disabled people, are now accommodated.

Cases of domestic violence that are withdrawn is a problem and reason for concern.

Desha said it is vital for applicants of protection orders to provide an exact home or work address of the person it should be served on as the order must legally be served within 24 hours.

Protection orders not served in time may lead to the applicant being killed, he warned. Desha said if the abuser has a firearm (or access to a firearm) there is an obligation to inform the court, who will then contact the police to remove the firearm.

Referring to a recent incident of a husband who assaulted his wife on campus, Desha said neighbours have a responsibility to report abuse. Victims are often too scared to report it.

Lorraine Waterboer (social worker, education department) and Cpt Cecile Adams (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit) with a doll used to help children verbalise abuse.

Kuils River Youth Desk members (from left), Marlene van Eyck, Alwaba Macawula, and Gershwin Duickers, who did a dramatisation of a poem about domestic violence, with Col Jayce Naidoo (station commander) and Sgt Nicky Willemse (domestic violence coordinator) of Kuils River police.PHOTO: Carina Roux

Artwork about gender-based and domestic violence created by learners of schools in the Kuils River area was displayed at the event. PHOTO: Carina Roux

Assist

Cape Town North subdistrict commander, Brig Luyanda Damoyi said the police have noticed an increase in domestic violence, “especially here in Kalkfontein.”

He pleaded people should assist one another. “The new law put a responsibility on everyone (to report) – that is comforting.”

Damoyi said police officers attending a scene where a woman was abused often hear from nearby residents that the abuse has been happening for some time. “Why are we keeping quiet, when we hear these things happening at the neighbours?” he asked.

There are women who abuse, but statistics show the perpetrators are mostly men.

“Our boys grew up with the mentality, ‘we are strong’. Maybe we should change that,” Damoyi said.

He asked community members to keep the police in prayer and to rather work with them than against.

Touching on trauma police officers experience, Damoyi said: As a father myself, when you see a two-year-old child who cannot walk after being raped by their own father, imagine what it does to you.”

He said the police need more partners – from communities, religious fraternities, non-profit organisations and other social structures – to work with them. “Criminals see our weakness – we are not united.”

He admitted there are corrupt police officers, but said the majority are not.

“We can only rid the police of corruption if the community work with us. Damoyi explained there are always two parties involved. “Those that corrupt our officers come from within the community.”

In the past two months they have seen attacks on police officers in some communities, he said.

“When our young cops come to arrest a drug lord or shebeen queen, our community attack our cops. These drug suppliers and liquor outlets supply the stuff that leads to GBV but when our cops come, that same community attack our cops. Let’s protect our cops.”