As 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children approaches, Edenvale SAPS invited those interested to join the police in its efforts to promote awareness and create education.
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The United Nations campaign, which SA supports, is held annually from November 25 (International Day of No Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
Edenvale Police Station communications officer Sgt Jacob Mashile said this year the station’s Social Crime Prevention coordinator, Col Mathapelo Mothobi, will host an event when she partners up with Operation Okae Molao.
Set to be held on November 25, Mashile said the event will be an educational and awareness campaign.
He said it will see Edenvale SAPS members interact with the community and share information with the public as they make their way through town.
Mashile said members of the public, non-government organisations, the Edenvale CPF and security companies are welcome to join the police.
He said the event will start at 09:45 at the police station and would continue throughout the day.
Contact Mashile on 082 758 7300 or Mothobi on 071 675 6843 for more information.
Besides inviting the community to join the police in creating awareness Mashile shared information on the various types of abuse victims of gender-based violence may experience.
He said the types of abuse range from sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse and emotional abuse.
Sexual abuse occurs when the perpetrator initiates any unwanted sexual contact.
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It includes:
• Pressuring the victim to perform sexual acts they don’t want to perform.
• Inappropriately touching the victim.
• Forcing the victim to have sexual intercourse with others.
• Hurting the victim against their will during sex.
Physical abuse occurs when one person uses physical pain or the threat of physical force to intimidate others.
It includes:
• Slapping, pushing and pulling hair.
• Abandoning the victim in dangerous places.
• Locking the victim out of the house.
• Refusing to help the victim if they are sick, injured or pregnant.
Emotional abuse consists of intentional behaviour designed to cause pain to another person on purpose.
It can include:
• Name-calling and intentionally embarrassing the victim in public.
• Constantly yelling and belittling the victim.
• Preventing the victim from spending time with friends and family members.
• Threats of suicide to keep the victim with the abuser.
• Threatening to harm loved ones or pets.
• Preventing the victim from going to work or school.
• Starting rumours about the victim.
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Financial abuse is defined as when an abuser restricts a victim’s access to money.
It includes:
• Preventing the victim from having a job.
• The abuser spends the victim’s money.
• The abuser intentionally destroys the victim’s possessions.
• Not allowing the victim access to information on the joint financial situation.
Mashile said those being abused have the right to apply for a protection order at the nearest police station or magistrate’s court.
Alternatively, they may lay a criminal charge at the police station and apply for a protection order.
He explained that a protection order is an order issued by a court at the victim’s request.
“It orders a person with whom you have or had a domestic relationship to stop the abuse,” said Mashile.
“It may also prevent the person from getting help from any other person to commit similar acts.”
Mashile said an interim protection order can be issued at any time of the day or night for the victim’s protection.
Highlighting who can apply for protection orders, Mashile said any victim of domestic violence.
He said if the victim is too young to open the case themselves, then a parent, guardian or a responsible adult acting on their behalf, with their permission, can assist them.
“It is the commitment of the Edenvale SAPS to treat victims of domestic violence with sensitivity and care,” said Mashile.
“As police officials, we will treat victims with respect and protect their dignity.”
While at the police station victims will be assisted in private, informed of their rights and their options.
Mashile said once the officers have taken the victim’s statement they will decide, based on the statement, whether to arrest the abuser, confiscate their firearm if they own one and determine the victim’s needs.
He said if no arrests need to be made then officers will serve a protection order on the person against whom it was made, as directed by the court.
The SAPS will keep a copy of the protection order and record every arrest made as proof for victims.
They will also note your complaint in the Incident Register at the station as further proof that you reported the matter.
He said victims will be asked to sign the police station’s Occurrence Book.
Mashile explained that this allows the police to keep a record and provide the victim with feedback on their case.
Contact details for those in need
Edenvale Police Station – 011 553 8600.
Bertha Gxowa Care Centre (Germiston) – 011 089 8522.
Thelle Mogoerane Hospital (Vosloorus) – 011 590 0083.
Amcare (Alberton) – 011 869 5856.
Mercy Haven (Boksburg) – 011 892 2714/5037.
Thembisa Masakhane – 011 923 2180/2106.
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