While women celebrate Women's Month, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule Ramakhanya, called on women and children to break the silence against abuse.
She said that most cases of domestic violence and sexual abuse in South Africa went unreported. She said that domestic and sexual violence against women and children remained a major cause for concern. She added that the solution was to take gender-based violence seriously in homes and communities to make sure everyone understood the problem and held the government accountable.
She encouraged women and children to act and break the silence to reduce the unacceptable behaviour towards women and children. "I further urge all victims of abuse to report all incidents to the police," she said. "Even when the abuser is the sole breadwinner in your house, report them to the police, because that person might end up killing you and your children, and that's what we hate to see. There are several women who are involved in abusive relationships, but they do not speak out. Our SAPS is here to help you to overcome the abusive relationships," she said.
Ramakhanya said men who raped and murdered women and children were cowards who were controlled by evil spirits and drugs. "They deserve to be locked up for good. We do not want them to return to the community. The most common types of abuse are physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse," said Ramakhanya."
"People who are abused also experience confusion, fear, hopelessness, helplessness, and shame. Another good way of highlighting issues of child and woman abuse is to speak with the women and children themselves on how they should act against any kind of abuse," she said.
Those who experience some psychological effects of abuse should consider their situation carefully to help determine whether their relationships are healthy or not. No "correct" way for victims to respond to or feel about abuse existed, she said.