Local entities take a stand against GBV

During the 16 days of activism against GBV, the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro) and the National Institute Community Development and Management (Nicdam) collaborated in organising a community engagement campaign in Katlehong that addressed issues around GBV.

The social development and labour departments, Cogta, the IEC, the CoE, SiyaqobaVuka juvenile and the Family and Marriage Society of South Africa (Famsa) were among the other stakeholders working together.

Nicdam is a registered NPO offering tailored training programmes and evidence-based interventions in the health, social development and education fields.

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Their social purpose is to contribute to the development of southern African individuals, communities, organisations and government through the South African Qualifications Authority-accredited (SAQA) training, community development, government support programmes and social research.

Nicro is based in Germiston and offers comprehensive services dealing with sexual offenders.

The event’s goal, according to Nicro social worker Nelisiwe Khanyi, was to dissect domestic abuse, raise community awareness of its effects on children, and inspire participation in efforts to reverse the trend of domestic violence against women and children.

“Three keynote speakers discussed aspects of domestic violence.

“Nicro offers an intimate partner violence programme that focuses on helping those who commit domestic abuse. The programme’s goal was to address domestic abuse in a balanced manner.

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“She underlined that criminal behaviour is an unlearnt behaviour that can be unlearnt and that no one is born a perpetrator.

“Through initiatives of these programmes, there has been a good record of perpetrators not reopening. However, interventions with victims at times is a struggle because victim open cases and lose interest.

They don’t get the intervention necessary for them, which leads to victims becoming perpetrators themselves. The Department of Social Development’s GBV unit informed the community that human trafficking is real.

“It is crucial to inform people when you go to interview background checks when invited to interviews. If there is something you suspect, listen to your instinct.”

Langelihle Mthethwa, a keynote speaker, spoke about her experience of abuse and how she overcame her trauma.
She said the first step is to accept that you are abused and deal with it through an intervention.

She described an incident involving her ex-husband in which she was made to undress because he had bought the clothing. She did this in front of her mother and son at a taxi rank, where she ended up nude, and a bus driver offered her his jersey. She remains haunted by the sounds of other women applauding her ex-partner’s actions.

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She said her son’s experiences from when he was seven still impact him significantly. She said she is a co-founder of the Phakamalanga organisation.

Nhlanhla Nkosi, an ex-offender, spoke about how he overcame crime and reintegrated into society. He now assists young people who struggle with drugs by sending them to rehab and giving them upholstery skills. He is also the co-founder of Vuka juvenile.