Local community urged to report incidents of gender-based violence to law enforcement agencies
DIEPSLOOT– Mathye said the biggest challenge faced by police and other law enforcement agencies is the high rate of cases withdrawals.
In their concerted efforts to combat the deadly ‘pandemic’ of gender-based violence in the community, Diepsloot Gender-Based Violence Forum kick-started this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children on a high note.
The forum hosted an awareness campaign event aimed at educating community members about the scourge of gender-based violence at the Ext 13 sport grounds on 25 November.
The forum is an umbrella organisation which comprises different community-based organisations working in partnership with government departments and entities to fight against gender–based violence in the area.
Speaking to attendees, Mpho Rasmeri, a social worker at OR Tambo Clinic, urged community members to seek professional help and report incidents of gender-based violence to the police.
“The plague of gender-based violence has taken its toll in our community. We need you, men and women, young and old, to come to the party and join forces with government’s law-enforcement agencies and local organisations to eradicate it. Don’t keep quiet if you know or see someone being abused, report it to the police,” Rasmeri said.
Shadrack Mathye, a social worker at Diepsloot Police Station, said the biggest challenge faced by police and other law-enforcement agencies was the high rate of case withdrawals. “During a series of dialogue sessions we had as a build-up to today’s event, one of the challenges that victims and community members raised was the interference of family members if the perpetrator is a relative. Families play a role in the advancement of gender-based violence in our community and that must be addressed if we are serious about eradicating the scourge.
“We also appeal to men in our community to come to the party and speak out when faced with challenging situations,” Mathye added.
Some community members alleged that local police had failed to respond adequately to the scourge.
Community member Gladys Sthole said, “The police are not doing enough to combat this kind of crime.
“Some cases take long to be resolved and that has an effect on victims who sometimes live with perpetrators under one roof.”
