The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, the Office of the Family Advocate, The Engagement Office, the judiciary, and local NGOs that address gender-based violence, joined the Law Clinic’s event.
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The event, attended predominantly by community members and children, focused on various important topics, including domestic and gender-based violence, harassment, child maintenance, and divorce.
Matilda Smith, left, the Director of the Law Clinic, stated that the event aimed to inform the public about the processes available for those seeking assistance with domestic violence issues. She expressed concerns about how different stakeholders address gender-based violence (GBV).
“We were very concerned about how everyone addresses Gender-Based Violence. In our Law Clinic, we also conduct mediation with the courts. Through this experience, we have discovered that when issues arise, people often have differing opinions and may not be willing to discuss them with one another,” Matilda explained.
Thabang Queench from EziNgcanjini, an NGO focusing on programmes for men, explained that they hope to sustain this momentum through their initiatives.
“As we all know this is the last day of 16 days of activism and we know that activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide goes beyond the 16 days; we hope that this momentum will be sustained through our programmes as a different service provider and we will ensure that we live to a kind of society that we all desire, free of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide”, explained Thabang Queench.
Queench explained that they aim to bring another role that men play in the matter.
“For the longest time, men have been ‘viewed’ as the perpetrator only, but now we are bringing another role that men play, which is a dual role of the potential change-makers, not just only as perpetrator but we also occupying the other role of being champions of prevention of GBVF. So that’s why it is very important that we engage men as the perpetrator and as the potentials of turning the table around”, stated Queench.
Lieutenant Colonel Thembi Gwe, right, of the South African Police Service at the Algoa Park Police Station emphasised that eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) is a collective responsibility within our communities. She also highlighted the importance of having a dedicated GBV support desk at police stations across South Africa.
“Let me start by saying we are all responsible for eradicating any elements of GBV in our society and also to create a platform where victims feel safe and empowered. Every police station in the country is supposed to have what you call a GBV support desk, it’s not the physical desk, but it’s members that are trained to deal with GBV, and we’ve got a Victim Friendly Room (VFR), their goal is to assist us in supporting the victims of GBV,” says Colonel Gwe.
Lieutenant Colonel states that police officers also experience gender-based violence (GBV). Some officers are victims, while others may be perpetrators.
“One thing that society forgets is that we are also human beings, and we are also victims of GBV, as police officials. Some of us are victims and some of us are perpetrators too,” Colonel Gwe said.
“Imagine being the victim of GBV as a police official and the next day you go and serve the person who is in the same situation as you as a police officer. What does that bring to you as the police? Maybe one day we need to look to us, us as police officials being the victims of GBV,” added Colonel Gwe.
Sinawo Fatyi, left, a motivational speaker and domestic violence activist, the founder of Johnson and Sebha NPC, shared her personal experience of how her father victimised them and assaulted her mother for over 25 years.
“I grew up in a domestic violence home background for 25 years, we were victimised emotionally by our biological father.
"He used to go drink and when he came back home, he would call us names. At 10 years of age, he used to beat our mother, and we grew up watching that, ” Fatyi said.
Fatyi urged others facing similar issues to report the abuse, as she actively collaborates with both victims and offenders.