Tshwane Liquor Traders Association, police host GBV dialogue in Lotus Gardens
“When neighbours hear someone being beaten up by their partner, they say 'it is not my business' then regret not intervening when the victim dies."
Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association along with Pretoria West police hosted an anti gender-based violence (GBV) dialogue with patrons at Connie’s Pub in Lotus Gardens last Wednesday.
The initiative, Act Now, aims to end GBV-related incidents involving people who had been to taverns to drink.
Association president Oupa Mthombeni said the initiative started in Hammanskraal and will run until December.
Mthombeni said GBV is a serious problem so they wanted to help the government fight the scourge.
“The aim is to try not to sell liquor to perpetrators of GBV. As liquor traders, we know our customers, we know who is doing what, and we know which families are likely to be affected,” he said.
“We want the community to be involved in this initiative because when neighbours hear someone being beaten up by their partner, they keep quiet because they say it is not their business, when someone loses their life and then they regret not intervening.”
He said they would like the police to form a roaming task team to go around police stations solving cold cases.
Mthombeni said the patrons were happy with the visit and they felt that maybe the intervention of the association will help to reduce the incidence of GBV.
“The communities and the police appreciate what we are doing. I even got messages from people in Hammanskraal saying they wish I could come back again to do a door-to-door campaign because GBV is a serious problem for everyone.”
Pretoria West police spokesperson Constable Sibongile Vuma said tavern owners were reminded to operate within their allocated time frame of 10:00 to 01:30.
Vuma also advised patrons to report any liquor trader who operated outside this time or selling to underage children.
“Pamphlets about GBV were given out to remind them that GBV is a serious concern to the SAPS. They were given information on how victims of GBV can be assisted at our police stations as the SAPS is working with social workers to rid the communities of GBV,” she said.
“Men were reminded that beating women is a criminal offence which can land one in jail for a long time while women were motivated to love their husbands and take care of them.”
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