Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Ms Sibongile Manana has called on police officers at police stations not to discourage victims of abuse from opening cases.
The Driefontein community told the MEC that sometimes when they go to police stations to report cases of abuse, police officers are encouraging them to go and resolve these cases at home. MEC Manana was speaking at the provincial closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children in Driefontein outside Piet Retief.
MEC Manana said this had a negative impact on the success of the campaign when people do not report cases after negotiating with the perpetrators. She said this led to increased incidences of gender based violence in the society.
“I am appealing to the police officers to stop encouraging people to solve problems at home, especially when the law is there to protect the victims.”
Manana has also called on the community members not to withdraw cases of abuse already opened at police stations.
“When people withdraw cases, the state’s resources are utilised fruitlessly. The police use the resources such as papers to record cases, telephones for investigation, fuel for vehicles and time to do their work. When cases are withdrawn, it becomes a fruitless expenditure,” said MEC Manana.
She said police officers should subject all cases of abuse to full criminal justice processes so that government could win the war against gender based violence. The MEC further encouraged communities to report cases of abuse irrespective of whether they depended on perpetrators. She said many people were abused by people who were supposed to protect them.
“Many cases of abuse usually occur in places where women and children think they are safe. It happens in their homes which are supposed to be places of safety. In many instances women and children who are victims of abuse know the perpetrator, we urge them to come and report,” said MEC Manana.
“We have a responsibility to transform social behaviours towards respect for women and children. Parents must be real parents, our children must be raised in an environment that teaches them respect for human dignity,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Mr Bangizwe Nkosi of Men for Change challenged men not to look away but to act against abuse on women and children. He said research established that three out of ten men were abusers of women and children. His forum was concerned about the other seven men who are keeping quiet about incidences of abuse. He said real men speak out against abuse.
He called on men to change their behaviour adding that women should be treated as equal partners. He urged men to start forums in their localities to fight against societal ills such as abuse on women and children. The 16 Days of Activism campaign is an international campaign for the elimination of gender based violence. The campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December every year. The campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children.
South Africans have been called to support the campaign for 365 days a year by utilising the white ribbon symbol in innovative and inventive ways to reflect solidarity for vulnerable groups in the society that includes women, children and those living with disabilities.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
Issued by: Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
10 December 2009
Source: Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/safety_and_security/home.asp)
