Domestic violence report reveal shocking results

Kwatsaduza – Ekurhuleni has released the shocking report on the prevalence of gender based violence within the municipality.

In the report, domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviour that transgresses the right of citizens to be free from violence.

The report reveals that Tembisa and Katlegong have the highest prevalence of domestic violence. These townships are followed by Tsakane, Vooslorus and Makausi.

The official police record shows that Daveyton and Etwatwa are the biggest hotspots when it comes to domestic violence and sexual assault.

The MMC of community services, Dorah Mlambo, says the scourge of gender based violence is an age-old problem that has manifested itself in different ways in our communities.

“ The study shows us there are people still not comfortable to speak about something this personal – being raped or witnessing abuse of their child,” she says.

Lindiwe Khonjelwayo of Ekurhuleni says the worrying factor is that domestic violence is most experienced repeatedly in Kingsway, Duduza, Chief Albert Sisulu and Tsakane.

“This means that victims do not report on the first incidence of violence and may sometimes learn to live with the violence.

“The men who experienced violence compared to women are far less.

“In some areas, some men had not experienced domestic violence or sexual assault,” she says.

Lindiwe says there seems to be an unavoidable causal link between levels of educations and gender based violence.

“In areas like Tsakane, Vosloorus and Makausi displayed the highest numbers of people who had experienced domestic violence with just a secondary schooling education.

“There also a causal link between domestic violence and unemployment.

“Unemployed women were more at risk of experiencing domestic violence

“Skills development and education are one of the mitigating factors to fight gender based violence,” she says.