Newcastle Crisis Centre aims to bring awareness to women in need

Gender based violence (GBV) continues to increase, with more and more cases being reported on a daily.

This year alone, the Amajuba District has lost three women as a result of GBV, according to Mary Dobbie of the Newcastle Crisis Centre.

The first case was reported in Osizweni on January 10, when a 65-year-old woman was murdered by a family member.

On January 12, a domestic worker was brutally murdered at a home in Lennoxton.

The third victim was killed with a hammer near Bergville on January 13.

“These are only the stats that we have been made aware of. It makes us wonder how many cases of GBV have gone un-reported,” stated Dobbie.

On Friday, February 3, the Newcastle Crisis Centre held a jumble sale whereby they sold second hand clothes and shoes as a means of generating funds for the centre.

However, the main aim of the day to make more women in the community aware of the centre’s presence.

“A lot of cases go unreported because women in general do not know that we are here and that we can help them. Our aim today is so that more women learn about us and hopefully come to us for help instead of staying in abusive relationships,” said Dobbie.

She continued: “We want women to know that we are open 24/7 and are there to help them at any time of the day or night from offering a place of safety to helping them secure protection orders. They need to realise that they do not have to be too afraid to speak up and that they are not alone,” she concluded.

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