A woman is murdered every three hours in South Africa. This is according to the 2017/18 data collected by Africa Check. In 2016 statistics showed that women in South Africa were murdered every four hours. South Africa is reported to have the highest numbers of gender-based violence incidents in the world.
During a crime-awareness campaign in Muldersdrift on 28 April, 13 police stations in the West Rand District, along with the gender-based violence brigade met with community members and handed out flyers on crime awareness, including GBV.
GBV is disproportionately directed towards women and girls. It can be described in different forms such as violence and psychological abuse.
Violence through the lens of GBV can be:
• Domestic violence (violence in close relationships – families, marriages)
• Sexual violence (rape, sexual assault, corrective rape, sexual harassment and sexual abuse)
• Human trafficking
• Hate crimes
• Online harassment
• Pornography, stalking and bullying
Psychological abuse includes:
• Threats, humiliation and mocking
• Controlling behaviours
• Economic violence (denying the victim access to financial resources, property, healthcare and education)
Victim Friendly Rooms (VFR) are dedicated spaces at police stations that have the responsibility of supporting victims of rape, sexual offences and domestic violence.
Victims of crime are provided with the following services when reporting:
• Emotional containment in victim friendly rooms to create a sense of safety, allowing victims into a more comfortable space
• Psychological debriefing
• Education on victim empowerment programmes and available services
• Statement taking by a female police member or personnel
The Ikhaya Lethemba is a one-stop centre for victims of crime and violence, and it is available within the government sphere.
SA Police toll free number: 10111
Ikhaya Lethemba: 011 242 3000
