Stand and be counted during this 16 days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children

JOHANNESBURG – Over three quarters (77%) of women in Limpopo; 51% in Gauteng; 45% in the Western Cape and 36% in KwaZulu Natal reported experiencing some form of violence (emotional, economic, physical or sexual) at least once in their lifetime both within and outside their intimate relationships.

This was confirmed by 78 % of men in Gauteng, 41% in Kwazulu Natal, 48% in Limpopo and 35% in the Western Cape respectively who admitted to have perpetrated such act wittingly or unwittingly.  These are the key findings by War@home: GBV Indicators research project with a sample size of 5621 South Africans in four provinces (2800 women and 2821 men).

This is particularly worrying for a country with one of the most progressive constitution on gender equality in the world. Patriarchal societal norms goaded by the conspiracy of silence that discourages women from speaking out fuels Gender Based Violence.

The latest released crime statistics 2013/14 provided no comfort either indicating a marginal decrease of sexual crimes from 12 288 previous year to 11021 in 2013/14, indicative of a call of action by the law enforcement agencies to do more in bringing public confidence.

In as much as government and NGOs carry out regular awareness campaigns eluded to by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, the fact that domestic violence and gender based violence occur behind closed doors, someone known to the victim, makes it difficult to police unless community begins to take an active role in reporting such.

During this 16 days of activism on No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, my call of action to all men and Faith Based Organisations in an attempt to emancipate women from the shackles of abuse, perturbing them on a daily basis.

We need a paradigm shift to this phenomenon that continue to sent unnerving thorn to some women to think that they are no longer free to walk the streets of Gauteng wearing what makes them comfortable.

The crime statistics released recently reminds us of the enormous task that lies ahead in transforming the fight against women and children. Drug related crimes were at 497, whereas sexual crimes were reported to be high at 11021.  Ordinarily, this calls for a united front to soldier on in working with every organ of the society if we want to arrest the situation.

Men As Safety Promoter’s (MASP) programme of the department is running a successful social crime prevention and have to date recorded a breakthrough in gender based violence through running the following activities;

• Tavern visits to speak to men as we all know from the recently released crime statistics that alcohol and drug abuse are the main contributors to crimes against women and children. Key messages shared with these men include responsible drinking and how to be responsible gentlemen.
•  Established partnership with the different churches across Gauteng.  The Assembly of God church in Marathon squatter camp in Primrose donated a space for Men as Safety Promoters and Women desk.  In Eldorado Park a similar partnership exit with the Methodist church, Anglican Church in Ennerdale and Men As Safety Promoters respectively, where they assist the church with the distribution of food parcels to the needy.
• Started a mentorship programme where young boys from Eldorado Park, Reiger Park, Bekkersdal and Evaton participate voluntarily on career guidance and personality tests aimed at rediscovering oneself in terms of personality.
• Similar mentorship programme is also run with inmates from Leeuwkop Prison to prepare them to be reintegrated back into the society. Majority of these inmates were convicted for committing horrendous acts of women abuse.
• Create a platform for men to interact on gender based violence, domestic violence, rights and responsibilities to make men role models in the society.   In areas such as Eldorado Park and Ennerdale there has been a high turn up at each session with up to 100 men per session.
• Join Men as Safety Promoters which has recorded to date training of 1800 volunteers in the  64 areas of Gauteng (Diepsloot, Johannesburg Central, Sophiatown, Brixton, Mondeor, Fairlands, Primrose, Alberton, Benoni, Brackendowns, Actonville, Crystal Park, Daveyton, Putfontein, Langlaagte, Booysens, Kempton Park, Norken Park, Edenvale, Sebenza, Loate, Dube, Mabopane, Zonkezizwe, Katlehong, Tembisa, Olifantsfontein, Ivory Park, Nelmaphius, Springs, Devon, Dunnotor, Duduza, Nigel, Kwa-Thema, Ratanda, Vereeniging, De Deur, Roodepoort, Tshepisong, Plot 8, Mathole, Bedfordview, Sandringham, Heidelberg, Kliprivier, Sharpville, Evaton, Sandton, Randburg, Germiston, Elsberg, Bramley, Alexandra, Yeoville, Ennerdale, Jeppe, Brakpan, Tsakane, Meyerton, Carltonville, Fochville, Wedela)

The faith based sector, responsible to mobilizing churches against churches has also took a stand against domestic and sexual violence.

• In Sharpville the churches at Vuka section working hand in hand with Social Workers runs rehabilitation for nyaope addicts and the Fraternal of Anglican Church further engages with their families.
• In the West Rand, the Kagiso Faith Based Organisation working closely with the Community Police Forum and Social Workers provide lay counselling for addicts.
• Call for the amendment of the Regulation of Liquor Licensing, stern action for those in proximity to schools and places of worship.
• Participate in story telling of gender based violence through the eyes of a woman
• Be counted by inputting into the planned program of action to be tabled in Bloemfontein during the men’s march scheduled during this 16 days of activism campaign.
• Active participation in the Gauteng men’s Federation co-ordinated by Department of Social Development.
• Lead and mobilise other churches to take part in the prayer session due to take place on the 11 December in Soweto.
• Sign and live by the pledge to be the voice for the voiceless especially for victims of gender based violence.
• Join hands with government in finding a lasting solution to drug abuse particularly nyaope.
• Churches must make facilities available for community to make use of as rehabilitation centres and encourage parents to form support groups.
• Adopt a granny in need and provide all the essentials such as counselling, food parcels.  As rightfully put “Do to others as you would have them do to” Luke Chapter 6, verse 31
• In Evaton and Sharpville respectively, individual pastors makes themselves available to guide and give counselling services at the Victim Empowerment Centre.
• The Faith Based Organisation was instrumental in the establishment of seven green doors in Ekangala, Khutsong, Atteridgeville, Fochville, Randfontein, and Sokhulumi respectively.
• One of our Green door Ambassador Pastor Moswang Nkuna runs a successful community project in the form of food garden project which changed the lives of 10 unemployed women for the better.

We remain resolute in working with men to change the landscape of our society as pronounced when we adopted the Women’s Charter in 1954, echoed when adopting the manifesto by the ruling party “We will continue to prioritise incidents of domestic violence and crimes against women and children by further strengthening the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit and pursuing a multi-disciplinary approach in our fight against women and children” ANC Manifesto 2014.

The Department of Social Development will this year celebrate Africa Men’s Day. The “Adopt a Granny programme will be launched where individual men will commit to visit a granny on a weekly basis. This is an intervention to fight violence elderly. A National Men’s Dialogue will be held in Bloemfontein to develop the Programme of Action on the involvement of men in the fight against VAWAC. This indicates that men are ready to take the on the struggle against violence on women and children.

The message is simple Ayihlome Madoda, you are not men enough if you abuse women, girl children, the elderly and people living with disabilities.

Sizakele Nkosi- Malobane is the MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng