‘Women are not your crime scene’ – help fight gender-based violence

“Another pandemic is raging in the country – the killing of women and children by the men of the country.”

So said President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the nation earlier this month.

Gender-based violence (GBV), while sadly nothing new in South Africa, has reared its horrifically ugly head again, with a number of women around the country being murdered or badly injured in attacks.

Photography student Saneliso Nompula, a former pupil at Port Shepstone High, has used his lens and artistic flair to spread awareness of these serious issues.

He encouraged some like-minded friends to join him in raising awareness through photographic images, and the result has been a series of photographs highlighting concerns and sending a strong message of support for women.

One of those who has teamed up with him is Megan Chetty of Port Shepstone, also a student.

“We want to spread awareness by sharing the photographs. It’s something we want to bring to the public’s attention, especially in light of the recent spike in GBV reports and deaths,” she said.

Some of the messages on the placards read ‘No means no!’, ‘Stop rape!’ and ‘She said no!’ Others read ‘She’s someone’s’ with the words ‘mother, sister, daughter’ crossed out, and ‘women are not your crime scene’.

Saneliso has called on others, especially artists, to do the same: to take their own photos and create awareness around these issues which harm our society and to share them far and wide on all the various platforms – print, digital and social media.

There are safe havens on the South Coast that provide shelter and help to women on the run from domestic violence.

The Siyamthanda KwaXolo Shelter is one such refuge. Eight women and seven children presently call the shelter home, with three seeking protection during lockdown.

According to the shelter’s Thando Magadlela, they not only cater for locals but have helped women from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Domestic violence cuts across all ages. Each woman’s situation is different and it depends on what they are running away from – mostly it’s from abusive partners, -Thando Magadlela

To keep the women safe, once they reach the shelter, their cellphones are disconnected so that their whereabouts cannot be traced. Most remain there from three to six months.

“Our goal is to empower them. There is a big difference in them from the time they arrive and when they are ready to leave,” said Thando. Unskilled women are taught sewing, baking and gardening during their stay.

SafePlace is another organisation looking out for the well-being of women.

“Not knowing what we would see in our communities with the announcement of the lockdown, our team at SafePlace prepared for the worst case scenario.

“With the need being so great in the area of gender-based violence (GBV), our team has made sure that those who are facing injustice have a place of safety on their doorstep,” said operations manager, Jono Downham.

He said speaking out on GBV will give hope to the hopeless and a voice to those who are victim to this oppression. “Many women live lives of vulnerability, uncertainty and risk,” he said.

Across the country the media spotlight has fallen on women such as Tshegofatso Pule who was murdered along with her unborn daughter who had already been given a name.

But she is only one of many girls and women – some even grandmothers – who have fallen victim to GBV.

In response, government has allocated R1.6 billion towards fighting GBV and femicide.

In addition, some 7,000 evidence collection kits have been distributed regularly to every police station across the country, and more than 1,000 survivor-friendly rooms have been established at police stations.

Many police, prosecutors, magistrates and policymakers have undergone sensitivity and awareness training, and over 3,000 government employees who work with children and mentally disabled persons have been checked against the National Register of Sex Offenders.

Legislative amendments have been prepared around, among other things, minimum sentencing in cases of gender-based violence, bail conditions for suspects, and greater protection for women who are victims of intimate partner violence.

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