March highlights GBV
"We are taking a stand so that our people and communities know that what’s happening in the country is wrong and has to stop.”
The church has a role to play in combating the abuse of women and children.
This is according to Dr David Sagathevan, pastor of the Christian Teaching Centre (CTC). He spoke at the church’s march against gender-based violence on August 20.
Sagathevan was responding to a question about acts of GBV committed by men of the cloth, following the City Times’ lead last week on a Daveyton pastor sentenced to two life terms in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court for abusing minors who were part of his church.
“The church should report criminal behaviour. Even if it is a pastor or a community leader, they should be reported because they are breaking the law.
“It’s something we can’t tolerate as more children and women are harmed in the process. The longer we keep quiet, the longer it will continue,” he said.
The CTC held the march on behalf of Bethesda House, a shelter for abused women and children, which the church runs. The march started at CTC on Lancaster Road and rallied through Actonville.
“We are bringing awareness to the community that we are against GBV. We are taking a stand so that our people and communities know that what’s happening in the country is wrong and has to stop,” added the pastor.
Bethesda House’s manager, Benjamin Sagathevan, explained the shelter has been inundated with applications from women since the pandemic started.
“A lot of households were broken. People lost their jobs. This impacted them socially and emotionally and we thus saw an increase in domestic violence,” he said.
The shelter’s social worker, Heila van Staden, told the paper when the victims are brought in, they go through individual and group counselling.
Also Read: GBV survivor hosts awareness campaign
“They come with nothing. Some of them come here full of bruises. We send them to hospitals and courts to apply for protection orders. Those with children are advised to go to the maintenance court for child support.
“We have projects so that when they leave, they can do something for themselves. We send them to attend various courses and after six months, they should be ready to go into the world again,” said van Staden.
Benjamin added that their in-take includes women and children from across the country.
“Depending on the nature of the case, sometimes the perpetrator is too close to the victim and she needs to get away from him. For instance, if there is an ongoing case in Soweto, the woman will be housed here to get away from the abuser.”
Speaking at the release of the statistics on crime reported in the first quarter of the 2022/23 financial year on August 19, Police minister Bheki Cele revealed that 855 women and 243 children were killed between April and June.
Meet *Gee
Gee has been staying at Bethesda House for the past six months. She was married for 22 years and was abused by her husband for 16 years.
“I was beaten up every week and it got to a point where he almost killed me. I kept going back to him because I convinced myself I was doing it for my kids. But I was causing more damage to them as it affected them emotionally,” she said.
Gee advises women to leave as soon as they notice the red flags.
“They will try to control your life, how you dress, who you befriend and also watch out for how he speaks to you. Abusers will always try to isolate you from your family and friends.
“It’s okay to leave your abuser. Most women tend to stay for the wrong reasons. The abuser will never change. You will be on a honeymoon phase but after that, the abuse gets worse. Women should know that there are safe houses like Bethesda House that shelter abused women and children.”
*Not her real name
Also Read: Church stands up against abuse
