West resident opens up on abuse experience
“Not only is it not acceptable to hit a woman, but the fact that August is also Women's Month made the situation more serious,” said a member of the community reaction unit, Joey Botes.
Victims of domestic violence and women abuse in the west of Pretoria have been urged to report such cases to their local police station.
An Elandspoort resident (who asked to remain anonymous) said she recently experienced domestic abuse.
According to the resident the turning point was when her live-in boyfriend allegedly assaulted her for the third time on Tuesday afternoon.
“I just decided enough is enough,” she told Rekord.
“And the fact that it happened in front of my children was just one too many.”
The community reaction unit of Elandspoort supported the resident throughout the process.
“Not only is it not acceptable to hit a woman, but the fact that August is also Women’s Month, made the situation more serious,” said a member of the community reaction unit Joey Botes.
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“That is why we decided to help her.”
Botes said it was extremely important to first open a case at your nearest police station.
“When the case is opened, it must not be withdrawn,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter what the man says or what excuses he makes. It is very likely that it will happen again.”
She said they accompanied the resident to the Pretoria West police station to open a case.
“The service we received at the police station was very satisfactory,” she said.
“The station commander helped us personally.”
After the case is opened, the victim must go for medical tests at a private or state doctor or hospital.
“The medical examination is part of the police’s investigation that has to be handed in to them,” she said.
“After we were at the Pretoria West police station, we went to the Laudium clinic where she was examined.”
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Botes said after the medical examination, the victim can decide to get an injunction – in this case it was done at the family violence court in Visagie Street.
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