Khulisa Social Solutions is an NPO which has been in existence for over 21 years.
They offered services at victim empowerment centres in police stations. The organisation is funded by the Department of Social Development.
It operates in Moffat View, Langlaagte, Johannesburg Central and Sophiatown police stations.
Services offered include:
• Intake and referral to other service providers such as court (for protection orders).
• Psychosocial support and counselling to victims of domestic violence, crime and other forms of violence.
• Peace-making (mediation) for families and community members.
• Psychosocial services to the LGBTQI+ community.
Its vision is ‘a safer, healthier and more prosperous South Africa where all people, especially the youth, have access to information, skills and opportunities they need to contribute to equitable local and national development’.
The organisation’s mission is to address social vulnerabilities and inequalities by providing support and developmental know-how, through key partnerships, for initiatives at a community level that quantifiably demonstrate social impact.
Khulisa Social Solutions has been rendering diversion services for over 20 years and victim empowerment services since 2016.
Defining domestic violence
It is an ongoing pattern of coercive control involving people who are in a domestic relationship. It tends to increase in severity in overtime. It is often complicated by the fact that victims and perpetrators often share financial, social, and familial ties.
Forms of domestic violence according to the Domestic Violence Act
Physical abuse includes:
• Shoving, slapping, punching, kicking, biting, choking.
• Assault with objects, guns, knives or any other dangerous weapon.
Sexual abuse may include:
• Rape, attempted rape, indecent assault.
• Ongoing verbal abuse with sexual slurs, such as bitch, whore, slut.
Emotional abuse includes:
• Constant insults, ridicule or name-calling.
• Repeated threats of violence or death to cause emotional pain.
Economic abuse includes:
• Selling of shared property without consent.
• Denying financial support to victim.
The above-mentioned are but a few forms that domestic violence can take. Others include intimidation, harassment, stalking and isolation of victims from the outside world.
Stats on domestic violence
It was reported by minister Bheki Cele that there were 87 000 gender-based violence cases reported during the first week of lockdown. Shelters for victims are reaching capacity due to lockdown restrictions and social distancing rules. Confinement and unemployment is said to increase tensions within households, which may also lead to depression.
Victims of domestic violence
Any person can be a victim of domestic violence. However, women report more cases of domestic violence than men. This may be due to the fact that women are the majority of victims and that they report as a way to seek to solve their problems. Men have not always been forthcoming in terms of reporting abuse in the past. There is an increase in the number of men who report domestic violence incidents perpetrated by women. Moreover, a victim may not report a domestic violence incident due to fear and feelings of shame.
How to lower the risk
The first step in lowering the risk of domestic violence incidents is to report them as and when they happen. Victims tend to wait for the worst case scenario before reporting it to the police. If more people can report domestic violence cases before they become more violent, we would be well on the path to a domestic violence-free society. Victims are therefore encouraged to come forward and contribute to the fight against domestic violence.
Where to go for help
A victim can go to any police station to report a case of domestic violence. This can be done even if the victim does not wish to have a criminal case opened against their partner or perpetrator. At every police station, there are services offered to victims of domestic and other forms of violence.
A victim can also go to their nearest court for a protection order to be issued against their abuser. Reporting is key to end domestic violence. Do not suffer in silence because help is available.
For more information contact following police stations: Moffat View on 065 821 0703, Johannesburg Central on 081 457 4243, Sophiatown on 079 823 1766 and Langlaagte 076 317 1392. Khulisa Social Solutions can be contacted on 011 788 8237.
