Forty percent of South African men have hit their partners and one in four has raped a woman.
This is according to a survey by the South African Medical Research Council.
It was also revealed that 25 percent of the country’s women have been raped at some stage in their lives, but only two percent of those raped reported the incident to police.
The impact of these crimes against the country’s women and children is far-reaching. More so, it affects the already-strained public health system struggling to provide adequate care for those in need. This has given rise to charity organisation, Vital Foundation formed by Vital Health Foods to fund organisations working to address the problem of women and child abuse.
George Grieve, managing director of the company said, “Business can no longer sit back and do nothing about an issue that not only affects civil society, but also the economy.”
Business, he said, could contribute to the objectives of the World Health Organisation which has classified health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. “The imperative is on us as a business to do what we can, and more for people on a mental and social level too.”
The foundation disbursed R5 million in grants last year to organisations which deal with women and child abuse, and calls on similar organisations in Alex to apply for grant support.
Details: Craig Dummett; 021 418 2466, 082 072 4103, craig@dummettandcompany.co.za
