Sebenza SAPS has embarked on a domestic violence campaign to educate community members about domestic violence and alcohol abuse.
Sebenza SAPS’ communications officer Sergeant Sharon Tsotsotso said the station initiated this campaign due to the increase of domestic violence in the area.
Tsotsotso said the increase in domestic violence is fuelled by alcohol abuse, especially during weekends.
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“We want to remind people of the South African Liquor Act of 2003 because we will enforce this act without fear or favour. We have discovered that alcohol abuse is one of the root causes of domestic violence because people tend to start a conflict and have misunderstandings when they are drunk,” said Tsotsotso.
Tsotsotso went on to say that society and victims often tend to overlook, deny or excuse domestic violence. She said domestic violence occurs when a person uses a pattern of physical, sexual and or emotionally abusive behaviour.
Indicators of an abusive relationship include the following:
• Being excessively jealous and possessive.
• Controlling where to go, what to do, how you dress, who you go with, what you eat and drink.
• Keeping you from seeing family and friends.
• Limiting your access to money, phone, car or computer.
• An unpredictable temper.
• Threatening to take your child away from you.
• Threatening to kill you or commit suicide if you leave.
• Harsh criticism of you.
• Embarrassing you in front of your friends.
The South African Liquor Act of 2003 Chapter 9, Section 127 states the following offences:
• Any person who is drunk in, on, or near any road, street, lane, thoroughfare, square, park or market, any shop, warehouse or public garage or any place of entertainment, cafe, eating house or other premises to which the public has or is granted access (irrespective of whether access is granted against payments or is restricted to any category of persons or not).
• Any person who consumes any liquor in any road or thoroughfare, on or vacant land adjacent thereto, in an urban area subdivided into plots with streets bounded by such plots.
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• Any person who introduces, possesses or consumes any liquor on a sports ground, or any part thereof, to which the public has or is granted access (irrespective of whether access is granted against payment or is restricted to any category of persons or not), consume alcohol in or near any public place, including a motor vehicle driven on a public road or parked in a public place.
Penalties for those who are found guilty of an offence in terms of this Act will be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of not more than six months.
If you or anyone you know experiences domestic violence, contact SAPS on 08600 10 111.
