IN commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the South Durban Basin Area-Based Management (SDB ABM), in collaboration with various stakeholders, held a silent protest to raise awareness on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The SDB ABM, together with the city’s Safer Cities, Brighton Beach police members, Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Room (VFR) volunteers, and Bluff Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (BRRA), armed themselves with placards and stood at various spots on The Bluff last week.
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Eurakha Singh, SDB ABM’s senior manager, said GBVF is a multidimensional and complex worldwide phenomenon that needs holistic intervention.
“With the festive season approaching, statistics show that cases are more prevalent during this period. It is therefore important to raise awareness during this time as a means to prevention.
“The aim of the initiative was to empower and educate the community. This will ensure that the community lives in a harm-free environment, which keeps children safe, too,” she said.
Mcebo Mbatha, SDB ABM’s coordinator, said the commitment shown by organisations and the community to curb such occurrences in the community was admirable.
“The awareness campaign received a warm welcome from the community members. During the silent protest, the intersection was buzzing with the sound of hoots from motorists showing their support of the initiative. Pedestrians also showed their support as some stopped and read what was written on the placards,” he said.
Kamini Pillay of the City’s Safer Cities said she urged women and men to speak up against violence in their homes and communities, as well as to seek help from the police and various support organisations.
Domestic violence is any form of abuse within a relationship, such as:
Physical – Physical force is used against a person in a way that injures or endangers them.
Sexual – Any situation in which a person is forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe or degrading sexual activity. Forced sex, even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom you also have consensual sex, is an act of aggression and domestic violence.
Emotional/Psychological – The greatest form of abuse is verbal abuse, such as yelling, name-calling, blaming and shaming. Isolation, intimidation and controlling behaviour are also forms of emotional abuse.
Economic/financial – This may include rigidly controlling a partner‘s finances, withholding money or credit cards, making the partner account for every cent they spend, withholding basic necessities, such food, clothes, medications and/or shelter, restricting them to an allowance, preventing them from working or choosing their own career, sabotaging their job, such as making them miss work or by calling constantly, as well as stealing from the partner or taking their money.
Contact numbers for police stations in the area:
The Bluff – 031 451 8059/60
Wentworth – 031 451 6240/41/42
Montclair – 031 462 6219/17/04
Crimestop – 10111
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