The drive took place on the first day of the global 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.
Sergeant Nicholus Mokwena, of the social crime prevention unit of Douglasdale police, urged members of the public to speak out against domestic violence or seek help if they knew of anyone or they themselves were in a violent or abusive relationship.
Mokwena said, “Domestic violence is often thought to include only physical violence, but the conduct that constitutes domestic violence varies in nature and frequency.”
Mokwena explained that domestic violence included physical abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, sexual abuse, economic abuse, stalking, damage to property, unauthorised entry into the victims’ residence, intimidation, harassment and any form of controlling behaviour towards the victim.
He added that victims of domestic violence had the right to lay a criminal charge against an individual, if the conduct of the perpetrator constituted an offence. He advised victims to apply for a protection order at their nearest Magistrates’ Court or lay a criminal charge with police.
Details: 0800 150 150; 012 421 8000.
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