Isipingo police pro-active about gender, child violence
Toti self-defense expert, Morne Swanepoel gave demonstrations of techniques women can use to defend themselves.
Isipingo SAPS hosted a self-defense workshop for women as part of its 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign at the airforce base in Prospecton on Monday, 8 December.
Toti self-defense expert, Morne Swanepoel, assisted by detective Greg Lander-Ritchie, gave demonstrations of various techniques women can use to defend themselves and participants practised on each other.
“Crime has evolved and women need training as they are often soft targets,” he said in his introduction. “Women need a pro-active stance to prevent bad things from happening to them and they need to be more alert and do training. It is also a mother’s duty to protect her children.”
Isipingo SAPS communication officer, Captain David Ragavan said the workshop was one of many initiatives the police station has embarked on since 25 November to empower women and children in the community.
“We did a study and plan on what is happening in our area through statistics,” he said.
“On 26 November we walked through the business district and handed out pamphlets. The response we received was positive and we have since started a business forum.
The next day we targetted the residential community at Malagazi, where there are high incidents of rape, murder and assault, in an awareness campaign. We were partnered by the SAPS Air wing, K9, airforce, Isipingo Child Welfare, Alpha Alarms and PT Alarms.”
Over 2,000 pamphlets were handed out, which reaped rewards as the community has since reported cases of abuse. “The community has effectively become the eyes and ears of the police,” said Capt Ragavan.
“On 28 November we moved to Lotus Park and Orient, and focussed on domestic violence, from which we received positive feedback. Cases have since been opened and people have visited our victims’ centre.
From 1 to 5 December we visited five local schools and spoke to grade R and 1 pupils about child abuse and sexual violence, assisted by Operation Bobbi Bear. We received positive feedback from the principals and teachers.
We often notice abused women coming to our charge office, so we decided to end off the year with a basic self-defense class on Monday, and on Tuesday we visited Wendy Heights School to do a presentation on domestic and sexual violence.
We hope to continue with this programme to empower women and children next year.”
