Everything women and their safety discussed at Cradlestone
Self-defence classes and health were among the topics discussed during a Women's Day event held at Cradlestone Mall.
Women of Muldersdrift were treated to a Women’s Day with a Purpose event at the Cradlestone Mall on August 9.
Ward councillor Shenan Cochrane organised the event for more than 50 women who not only received self-defence classes but took part in a health talk. They were also given guidance about gender-based violence and how to handle it legally. During the session, the women were empowered with the knowledge and tools to deal with everyday situations that they encounter in rural areas.
Captain Hennie Bouwer gave the women some self-defence tips and included ATM safety, preventing snatch and grabs of handbags as well as preventing assault.
Dr Fathima Nabeel from the Muldersdrift Medical Centre spoke to the women about women’s health. She also opened the floor to questions that were well-received. Many of the women had questions and misconceptions that Nabeel helped them with.
Mashudu Neluheni from the Department of Justice Gender-Based Violence presented a talk on the subject and also explained changes that were made to the Act. She told the women how victims can report domestic violence crimes and assisted a few women with their queries.
The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 2021 (Act no 12 of 2021) states that there will be no more police or prosecutor bail in gender-based violence and femicide matters. This means suspects must appear before the court to apply for bail. Bail in these cases must be denied unless it would be in the interest of justice to grant it. The act extends intermediary services to civil matters and cases involving older persons. Life imprisonment for incest against children. Life sentence for gang rape.
The Domestic Violence Amendment Act, 2021 (Act no 14 of 2021) permits online applications for domestic violence protection orders.
According to Neluheni, there is no need to queue at courts if you can access the services remotely.
“The act places a legal obligation on you to report domestic violence against children, older persons and persons with disabilities. It makes the failure to report domestic violence against children, older persons and persons with disabilities a criminal offence. It makes it a crime to expose a child to domestic violence. Children exposed to domestic violence can apply for a protection order with or without assistance. It extends protection to older persons in abusive domestic relationships. The court may issue a safety monitoring notice that requires a police official to be in constant contact with the survivor without the knowledge of the abuser. A domestic violence protection order remains valid for life.”
The Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act, 2021 (Act no 13 of 2021) introduces a new punishable crime of sexual intimidation. It extends the definition of the offence of incest to include sexual violence with each other where one of them is a child, and the act of sexual violation was of such a nature that it was reprehensible for the adult person to have acted in that manner under the circumstances concerned. The perpetrator shall be charged with incest, despite mutual consent to engage in such an act.
All convicted sex offenders must be registered in the National Registry of Sex Offenders. Registered sex offenders are prohibited from working in environments that will give them full exposure to vulnerable persons.
The particulars of a registered sex offender cannot be removed from the register if sentenced to imprisonment for 18 months or more.
“I’d like to thank everyone who attended and helped make our Muldersdrift Women’s Day a success. I hope the valuable information received will be shared among others in the community by our ladies. We honour and acknowledge all our wonderful women – this was our chance to give back a little and improve and empower these ladies going forward,” Cochrane said.
