The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, addressing the memorial services of the two struggle veterans and active members of the ANC Women’s League and the church, said “we must fight this drugs that are becoming a scourge in the lives of our communities and affecting the lives of our children through the interdenominational initiatives like the one that was led by Mmasechaba Mabaso and Masamkelwa Chauke.
Raesetja Mary “Masechaba” Mabaso was a former nurse and a renowned community leader in Chiawelo who passed on due to natural causes, and Masamkelwa Chauke, is a 92 year old granny who was allegedly killed by her grandson in Soweto, Chiawelo, last week.
She told mourners that evidence from across the world suggests that efforts to reduce levels of domestic and gender based violence are more likely to be successful if they are collaborative, inter-sectoral, and involve a range of stakeholders including government structures and civil society. This is “because these kinds of violence are a societal problem and as such requires a wide-ranging societal response,” Ramokgopa said.
Domestic violence often goes along with drug abuse and it’s quite common in homes where there is a drug abuser. It can surface in various ways. It can be the actual violence of slapping or hitting or even lead to the loss of life.
For many people, home is where they face terror and violence triggered by somebody close to them, whom they should be able to trust. This must be stopped by members of the community through unity, love, prayer, and understanding.
Community and church leaders were urged to mobilize people to actively participate in addressing gender based and domestic violence. These will include increasing the community knowledge on legal and social rights by empowering them to seek help for abuse and to promote none-violent community relations.
Media contact:
Khutso Rabothata, Manager: Communication and Media Liaison
Office of the Deputy Minister of Health
Tel: 012 395 8481
Cell: 072 992 7171
E-mail: rabots@health.gov.za / ksrabothata@gmail.com
