Survey lays bare the extent of GBV violence
By Mthuthuzeli Ntseku
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Cape Town - A recent survey by CompariSure, a financial technology company, has revealed that gender-based violence may be even more severe than current observations by many organisations.
The survey, which was conducted over a period of two months with 531 respondents, follows on the heels of the release of the third-quarter crime statistics, which revealed a 5% increase in reported sexual offences.
The survey revealed that 52% of respondents said that they currently feel anxious and nervous around their partners, while 40% of women aged between 25 and 35 said they were being isolated from their families by a partner, and 32% have been threatened with harm by their partner.
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The National Shelter Movement of SA can also help you find a shelter nearest to where you are, as well as medical assistance.
Step 2: Reach out
You can reach out to people you trust and create a WhatsApp group in case of emergencies. Give the group a “safe” name, so that it does not raise suspicion should the abuser access your phone. If you send a help text, make sure to delete it afterwards.
Step 3: Signal for help
It is always a good idea to tell a neighbour or someone who lives close to you about your domestic conditions and the threat of GBV you live under. Talk to them about developing a signal that will alert them should you be in distress or need immediate help. Signals could include tying a piece of material around a fence or a tree, or flashing a light in one of the rooms. If you have children old enough to understand, discuss this plan with them too.
Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu.
Police continue to fail victims of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV), despite positive strides made in policy development for policing, according to the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA). Wednesday, 27 January, marked South Africa’s 16th National Police Day, a day set aside for the South African Police Service (Saps) to remember the sacrifices made by the police officers towards the safety of civilians. But those speaking for the women and children in civil society used the day to highlight the challenges and shortcomings of the police service as trends following the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak magnified existing patterns of.
According to the National Shelter Movement, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have seen the rate of abuse increase, with many shelters inundated with requests.