Picture:SIVENATHI GOSA
In closing Women’s Month, the SAPS Mdantsane Cluster held a gender-based violence (GBV) Aawareness Ccampaign on Friday at the Cambridge Hall.
The event was preceded by a peaceful community march led by the SAPS band on the Cambridge streets to demonstrate the anger felt towards GBV.
Cambridge station commander Brigadier Pumla Mdlankomo unpacked the purpose of the day.
“We are raising awareness for the community to so that they work together and fight domestic violence. Every day there is at least one person being killed by someone they love, so let’s fight and say ‘no’ to domestic violence,” said Mdlankomo.
She said the police’s doors were always open to people who experience abuse and they also had a support centre to support abuse victims.
Programme director Captain Noyephi Mtalana encouraged the audience to report abuse.
Survivors reflected and testified about their past experiences.
One survivor, Dora Matyeni, shared the traumatic murder of her child by her partner who then hid the body underneath her bed.
“Losing a child, especially my one and only, is a pain that I live with every day, but I thank the police of Cambridge for being by my side to fight for justice for my daughter’s justice,” said Matyeni.
Nozuko Dyonashe aAnother speaker, Nozuko Dyonashe, didn’t share the same positive experience with the SAPS after she lost her sister to domestic violence.
“I am not happy about how my sister’s case was handled as the murderer was let out on bail and is still roaming the streets.
“The police always say the case is under investigation, which is giving my family false hope,” said Dyonashe.
Different government stakeholders and non-profit organisations were present for the day, including the department of safety and liaison (DoSL), department of labour (DoL), department of education (DoE), department of social development (DoSD), Famsa, Masimanyane Women Support Centre, East London Taxi Association, Khethi’implo and Bumbi’INGOMSO.
