Newcastle Crisis Centre address concerns at annual general meeting

Victims of domestic violence do not have to remain silent about their enduring pain, as was recently discussed at the Newcastle Crisis Centre.

Newcastle Crisis Centre held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, August 29.

Its committee reflected on the past year’s events, and concern about the increasing violence against women and children.

“Although they are unable to reveal by how much, the incidents of violence against women and children have increased country-wide. Police warned the numbers were on the rise,” said Crisis Centre chairperson, Morris Gajoo.

“These crimes are taking place where they cannot be policed. They take place in bedrooms, homes and secluded areas.”

While the Crisis Centre focused on assisting domestic abuse victims, Gajoo emphasised the importance of all victims coming forward to report abuse.

“The violence starts small and then escalates to the point where lives are lost. Violence should be dealt with more effectively when the abuse first starts.”

“If the person does not want to open a criminal case, it is advised they should at least obtain a protection order.”

This for Gajoo was important, as he said the latest police statistics showed 14 333 people were murdered in South Africa between April and December in 2016, with a staggering 37 630 sexual offences reported during the same period.

Gajoo also said there was no number put to the amount femicides, where women were killed by an intimate partner.

However, he said the South African Medical Research Council released statistics that one in every three women was abused by their partners. While these numbers were scary, he said one of the biggest challenges faced by the Crisis Centre and the police, was the number of victims who dropped charges against their abusers and requested a stop to the investigations.

“The new Domestic Violence Act prevents police from dropping charges against suspects, but a lack of cooperation from the complainants often stall the cases.”

Gajoo believed alcohol consumption and drug abuse contributed to domestic violence.

“South Africa has one of the highest incidences of domestic violence in the world, and sadly, it is one of the most common and widespread human rights abuses in the country.”

With this in mind, Gajoo said women were the predominate victims.

“Every day women are murdered, physically and sexually assaulted, threatened and humiliated by their partners in their own homes.”

But as the Crisis Centre attempted to help where possible, Gajoo said organisations estimated one out of six women were assaulted on a regular basis by their partners.

“In at least 46 per cent of cases, the men involved also abuse the children living with the women.”

Crisis Centre Director, Mary Dobbie, confirmed the report on the increase of violence against women and children.

“From August 2016 to August 2017, we have assisted 269 people at the safe house, which affirms the need for the Newcastle Crisis Centre to keep its doors open.”

Dobbie said over the past year, she noticed crimes were not only increasing but becoming more violent.

With the staggering number of abuse cases, the Crisis Centre’s objective was to provide a safe haven for women and children who were affected by crime.

“Our vision is to promote, protect and enhance the safety of vulnerable families. Our aim is to empower and educate our clients.”

With the centre running at a deficit of R43 584, Dobbie said it was only through the assistance of donors that the centre had been able to keep serving the people who required help in their time of distress.