As the end of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) draws near, incidents of GBV in communities like the Greenville informal settlement in Alexandra have revealed just how deeply entrenched support for victims needs to be.

Residents have raised concerns that victims often do not report cases out of fear of retribution. This was recently underscored by the story of a Greenville woman, who admitted that she was physically abused by her partner, but firmly refused any advice to open a case.

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Such reluctance to report perpetrators, according to her close friend Baphelele Maduna, mirrors the hesitation of many other victims in Greenville informal settlement, who avoid reporting GBV cases out of fear that perpetrators will eventually be released from prison and return to abuse them.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Sandringham Community Policing Forum (CPF) led GBV outreach event on Saturday, CPF chairperson Daniel Venter, acknowledged these fears, adding that the majority of victims know the perpetrators.

“The perpetrators, nine out of ten times, are usually known to the victim. So, [victims] are scared of the repercussions. Also, they have got to live in the same house, even when the husband beats them. That is why they do not want to report it.”

The prospect of victims reporting cases hinges heavily on whether their protection can be guaranteed, and most residents, according to Maduna, do not think so.

Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (Adapt) auxiliary social worker Jackie Chauke acknowledged that most victims are financially reliant on perpetrators. This means many fear losing financial support or a roof over their head if they report GBV cases.

However, Chauke stressed that they support women holistically. While the police follow their own judicial processes to deal with perpetrators, Adapt ensures victims receive psychosocial support and access to emergency shelters.

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“We have Bombani Shelter for abused women and children. [However,] when they come, they need to have opened a GBV case.”

She said everyone who requires help, provided they have opened a case, will be accommodated immediately to ensure their safety and that of their children. “When the time comes for them to fetch their particulars, because they fled with nothing, the police will accompany them to the house, so that the victim can get clothes and other important documents.”

Venter noted that there is a need to find a system where victims can be protected.
On the other hand, Loraine Buzo, Sandringham CPF Sector 1 commander, highlighted the patience, understanding, and empathy one needs to demonstrate to get victims to report GBV cases.

“Sometimes I like to put myself in the shoes of the victims. I would go the next day and find out how they are, and see if they are comfortable talking, but normally I would have to encourage the person to go.”

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