Shongwe calls on women to report cases of abuse
5 August 2011
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe has called on
all women to report cases of abuse as the country celebrates the Women’s month.
Speaking during the handing over of a Wendy House at the Schoemansdal Police Station near Malelane (4 August 2011), the MEC has appealed to communities to report gender based violence so that perpetrators could be brought to book.
The Wendy House was donated by the department in partnership with Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Programme (GRIP), and will be used as a Victim Empowerment Centre to assist victims of crime, especially those who have been involved in domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Nkomazi has high statistics of sexual abuse.
Shongwe said 2010 statistics have estimated that a woman born in this
country has a greater chance of being raped than learning to read. He further
explained that in every 17 seconds a woman is being raped in this country.
Shongwe said the communities must make use of Victims Friendly
facilities which are available at various police stations to assist them to cope
with psychological and emotional effects of abuse.
“It is unfortunate that this facility will only be used by helpless women. Really no one should be staying at the police stations except for the suspects. No one deserves to stay here,” said MEC.
He added that the society would not need such facilities if women were staying comfortably and peacefully with their families at their homes. He said women should be nurturing and taking care of their children.
The MEC also explained that for a very long time government had greatly concentrated on criminals rather than victims, and such facilities are expected to assist the vulnerable members of society.
MEC Shongwe said the police will continue to arrest the perpetrators of crime regardless of who they were.
The facility is equipped with furniture, microwave, refrigerator, coffee tables and bedding material to the value of R30 000.
Shongwe also made a call to business community to support the facility
with donations such toiletry packs.
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner General Thulani Ntobela has called for
speedy prosecution of perpetrators as the continued delay in finalizing these
cases subjected victims to further victimization.
Ntobela said that it became “useless” if police made arrests and cases
were not speedily finalized, this he said, angered the community because they
then complained that police were not doing their work.
Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Cell: 079 491 0163
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and
Liaison
