![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2018/11/woman-abuse-2.jpg)
BRIGHTON Beach SAP communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux provides definitions of what constitutes domestic violence and what a domestic partnership entails, as the area experiences and increase in domestic violence.
What is domestic violence?
- Physical abuse – slapping, biting, kicking, beating, assault and threats to cause physical harm.
- Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse – repeated insults, name-calling, humiliation and invasion of privacy, such as threats to disclose a person’s HIV status.
- Sexual abuse – forcing a person to have sex against their will and sexual assault.
- Economic abuse – selling shared property without the victim’s consent, or withdrawing funds from a joint bank account for personal reasons without consent.
- Stalking – repeatedly following the victim, approaching them and demanding to talk to them.
- Damage to property – breaking furniture and deflating the tyres of the victim’s vehicle.
- Unauthorized entry into the victim’s residence – entering into the house of an ex without their consent.
- Intimidation – written or verbal threats which invoke fear.
- Harassment – making repeated unwanted phone calls to the victim, repeatedly watching a person or loitering at place where the victim is.
- Any other controlling or abusive behaviour towards yourself where such behaviour harms or may cause imminent harm to the safety, health or well-being of you or your family.
READ ALSO: Call police to intervene in domestic abuse cases
What is a domestic partnership?
A domestic relationship refers to the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator and includes a relationship where the people:
- are or were married to each other in terms of any law, custom or religion.
- live or have lived together in a relationship as husband and wife (whether they are of the same or of the opposite sex).
- are the parents of a child and share parental responsibility for the child (whether or not at the same time).
- are family members related by marriage, blood or adoption.
- are or were engaged, dated or in a customary relationship, including an actual or perceived romantic, intimate or sexual relationship of any duration.
- share or recently shared the same residence (whether or not they were romantically or sexually involved).
READ HERE: Are you being abused?
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061-876-3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031-903-2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)