Awareness of domestic violence

In South Africa, domestic violence is an issue that warrants attention from the public and society as a whole.

The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Warrant Officer Jean Olckers, described domestic relationships as being married in any form, living together as a couple, sharing parental responsibilities, are family members, had any form of romantic or intimate relationship or live at the same residence.

According to W/O Olckers, domestic violence is often perceived to be physical abuse, however this is not so, as types of domestic violence differ greatly.

Domestic violence includes:

•  Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, the invasion of privacy and humiliation.
•  Sexual abuse, sexual assault and forcing the victim to have sex.
•  Economic abuse, the withholding of money the victim is legally entitled to in an unreasonable manner without the victim’s consent.
•  Physical abuse, assaults and threats that aim to create physical harm to the victim.
•  Stalking or harassment, the repeated following or making repeated unwanted phone calls.
•  Damage to property or damaging any property that belongs to the victim.
•  Unauthorised entry into a victim’s residence or entering the victim’s house without their permission.
•  Intimidation and threats, including written or verbal threats of any kind that induce fear.
•  Any form of controlling behaviour that threatens the victim

The victim can either lay a criminal charge or apply for a protection order at their nearest magistrate’s court, if the behaviour of the perpetrator warrants it.

A victim can apply for both a protection order and lay a criminal charge. Victims should note that the laying a criminal charge is not needed for a protection order.

A protection order “compels the perpetrator” to behave in a certain manner and in some cases, “prohibits” the perpetrator’s conduct.

“Protection orders are put in place to protect the victim of domestic abuse from perpetrators. It prevents the perpetrators from obtaining help from other individuals who could assist the perpetrator,” said W/O Olkers.

If a protection order is disobeyed, the victim must contact the SAPS immediately and have a ‘crisis plan’ put in place in order to ensure their safety.

“It is the commitment of the SAPS to treat all victims of domestic violence with sensitivity and care,” said W/O Olkers.