The plight of gender-based violence in the communities is apparently caused by the outbreak of Covid-19.
Hence, on May 5, Honeydew police, together with the City of Joburg, People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa)OWA, National Credit Regulator (NCR), South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) department, recently held a GBV awareness in solidarity to educate the youth at Emthonjeni in Honeydew.
When Covid-19 was said to be a national disaster, many lost their jobs, and some ended up being the victims of GBV.
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“As a GBV forum, we have decided to preach the gospel of GBV in all disadvantaged communities because of the spike in GBV cases ever since South Africa was and came out of Covid-19 lockdown, resulting in people losing jobs and having to depend on their families and friends and ending up being the victims of GBV,” said Musa Mbatha, chairperson of the social development forum in region C.
“We want to give awareness and educate men and women to become independent and look after themselves. Youth should also assist organisations and the police by reporting the cases of GBV to their nearest police station. The community should know their rights and know that no one has the right to lay a hand on anyone. “
The youth of Honeydew learned about GBV security awareness and ways they could identify and avert GBV in their households.
Financial pressure was highlighted as one of the causes of GBV cases.
Zonke Majola, National Credit Regulator, said youth should not succumb to financial pressure from their spouses and families as it may lead to the financial pressure that could lead to a GBV case.
As a result, young people are advised to become acquainted with GBV justice law and understand the emphasis on sexual consent, to avoid being victims and perpetrators of GBV cases.
“People should understand that consent to sexual intercourse is not called rape. However, non-consensual sex is called rape because someone would have violated you sexually without your consent, “explained Martha Langa of the Dobsonville Human Rights Centre.”
Langa said people must understand that consent to have sexual intercourse means they are prepared and ready to agree to have sex, and if they do not agree and then they say stop, then that’s rape.
Sikiwe Mgandela, a youth member, said it was an educational awareness that made most of the youth in Honeydew understand the issues of GBV cases in the communities and how to respond to a GBV case.
The campaign ended up with the stakeholders handing out dignitary packs to women and gifts to men.
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