The KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC), together with The Salvation Army, took to the streets last week Friday for a peaceful march to Vryheid police station to deliver a memorandum on gender-based violence (GBV). Recognising that GBV seems to be entrenched in our society, The Salvation Army Men’s Fellowship – joined by fellow religious members in AbaQulusi, social partners, as well as the acting mayor of AbaQulusi Municipality and his team – demanded justice for victims of GBV and their families. In the memorandum, they directed their demands to Minister of Police Bheki Cele to ensure that police are gathering evidence in a constitutional manner and are accountable in accordance with the law.
They also demanded that Minister Cele ensures that: police follow timeous and due process during investigation; there is no further impunity for cases of femicide or GBV; that reported corruption among police, also in cases of femicide and GBV, is no longer tolerated by the authorities; and that police are trained to sensitively and objectively investigate incidents of GBV.
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Addressing the taxi association, media, church leaders, police, Social Development, SASSA and Health on GBV, the KZNCC’s Doctor Ngotshane said that some GBV issues were hidden in social, economic, cultural and religious abuse of women and children. “Some of these concerns are legitimised in a socio-economic and religio-traditional manner, which does not respect human rights and the indelible dignity of all human beings, women and children included. The KZNCC has conscientised men to be caregivers both for men and women. The KZNCC seeks to make a contribution in reconstructing the perceived low esteem and stereotype images of women, which have been promoted by socialisation, religious traditions, cultural convenience and theological distortions,” he said. Ngotshane indicated that the justice system has not been helpful to women. “Very often, women are embarrassed by the way the justice system handles sensitive and private matters in which women seek justice in the area of abuse. The police and magistrates deliberately ask questions of a private behavioural nature in public and expect women to demonstrate in linguistic expression and action if need be. Often, police send women back to abusive partners when they have come to report cases of abuse of human rights, sexual abuse and domestic violence. In some parts of the province, some young women are subjected to forced marriages (ukuthwalwa). In some instances, there is a possibility of abuse for an abducted woman,” added Ngotshane.
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