Residents stand up against abuse

KwaThema – Caswell Stop Abuse Movement recently received a certificate of participation from the Rape and Trauma Support Centre.

The centre’s aim is to fight for the rights of the abused residents.

Caswell Gxowa says they will use the information and skills they received during the training to empower the community.

“There are many people in the community who are abused but are too ashamed to speak out and seek help.

“We have also noticed there are many people who open cases and after a few days they decide to withdraw them.

“Some say they are discriminated against for reporting abuse especially by men. others felt the police who were helping them were not equipped with information to help them deal with the trauma.

“Through our organisation and by working with the police, we are able to offer them counselling and refer them to the necessary departments to seek help without being judged,” he says.

Caswell says they are calling on community members to speak out and help fight abuse.

“It is pointless for us to only speak behind closed doors about abuse but not be prepared to put up a fight.

“Abuse has deep roots in our communities and it will take us many years to uproot it but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done,” he says.

Resident Moipone Tsheola says we all need to teach our children there is nothing great about abuse.

“They must speak out, report abuse and know there is nothing to be ashamed of when you are being abused.

“We are tired of reading and hearing about the cases of abuse and young women who are killed daily.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye and pretend there is nothing wrong with it,” she says.