Abuse has been described as the the improper use or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit.
According to www.divorcelaws.co.za, it can come in many forms, such as physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression.
Abuse does not discriminate, it crosses colour, race, age or even continents and gender violence in any form is not new at all.
Standerton and its surrounding areas have proven not to be immune.
According to Ms Bensy Mollo of the Standerton Victims Empowerment Centre which helps abuse victims daily, alcohol plays a big role of not the centre in many of their cases.
Ms Lebohang Zwane, also a victim supporter, said other cases are financially motivated where the man feels inadequate when the woman earns more.
In addition, there is a broad consensus that women are more often subjected to severe forms of abuse and more likely to be injured by an abusive partner.
According to Ms Zwane, some studies have shown that same sex relationships are not immune either.
She also said it has to be of serious concern to many if not all. South Africa has seen abuse become more violent in recent years. According to Ms Mollo, in at least 46 per cent of cases the men involved also abuse the children living with the women.
“This is just a few of the many cases that have sent our country into wondering what went wrong in society?”
Some blamed the legal system, alleging that its too lenient on offenders and hoping for harsher sentences.
“No one is born an abuser, it is a choice people make,” Ms Mollo also said.
