Crime and violence continue to present a dilemma to the South African democracy and they are an impediment to attaining a better life for all. Despite the best efforts of government as well as civil society organisations to prevent crime and violence, these remain challenges that impact on all South Africans, directly or indirectly.
In 2009, the community of Keimoes was totally distraught by the brutal murder and rape of 7 year Princess Pofadder. This violent crime on an innocent young girl had a negative impact on the community.
The impacts of these crimes which are physical, emotional and social are experienced not only by the victims themselves, but their families and communities. During 2012, 34 sexual contact crimes and 250 assault crimes which includes domestic violence was reported in Keimoes. This is a worrying factor that women and children are succumbed to such acts of violence and crime.
MEC Botes said that “The establishment of the safe house therefore derives from the fact that most of the crimes of rape and sexual assault committed against women and children take place within what is supposed to be a safe haven – their own homes.
Further, these crimes are committed by perpetrators who are well known to them. The safety and protection of women and children cannot be promoted if they have nowhere else to go except to be under the same roof as the perpetrator.”
It is therefore vital that families, relatives and neighbours resume their social responsibility and take responsible actions to prevent and address these crimes. We all need to protect our women and children and begin to adopt an attitude of zero tolerance to the rape, beatings and abuse of women and children.
The Department of Social Development has invested over R850 000 for the establishment of the safe house of which R500 000 was for the purchase of the house, R150 000 to renovate it in order for it to be conducive for women and children whilst they are housed there and receive trauma counselling.
A further R200 000 was budgeted in the 2013 / 2014 financial year for the daily running costs of the safe house , which includes salaries , payment of municipal services, catering for victims, etc.
The MEC also requested the community not to brand “victims who go to the safe house for protection and counselling. So the plea is for the community of Keimoes to take ownership of the safe house and ensure that they look after it and ensure that it is not vandalised and most importantly that it is not under utilised.
The establishment of the safe is for the benefit of the community of Keimoes. It is to ensure that women and children who become of victims of crime and violence have a place to go.
Victims of violence and crime will not only be housed at the safe house but they will also receive all the necessary trauma counselling that they need to help and support them overcome their dreadful experience.
The MEC said that: “It is befitting and appropriate to dedicate the Safe House to Princess Pofadder who was brutally raped and murdered in Keimoes in 2009. She was only 7 years old at the time. The manner in which Princess’s life came to an end is shocking, cruel and inhumane. It has no place in our country. We must never allow ourselves to get used to these acts of base criminality to our women and children.
Women and children must not place themselves in positions where they are vulnerable and susceptible to crime. They should not drink in taverns and decide to walk home alone in the early hours of the morning, they should not wonder off with strangers who have enticed them with liquor, jewellery, clothes and in the case of children with sweets and chocolates.
He also appealed to women and children to report any cases of abuse, whether it is sexual or any other form of abuse. Abuse of women and children strips our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and cousins of their dignity and inflicting emotional and physical pain and resulting in untold stories of anguish.
In conclusion MEC Botes said: “We must continue to work together in creating a society that value life and that respect the rights of people to enjoy a life of dignity free from any form of abuse. Violence against women and children and any other form of abuse is incompatible with the dignity and worth of life of the human person and therefore must be eliminated at all cost.”
