A silent march and protest against the escalating gender-based violence in the Madiba informal settlement in Kimberley took place on Wednesday, 17 July.
Presented by the Shaine Griqua Advice and Development Centre, this event also acted as an awareness campaign in this settlement where Mymoena Kaleb was brutally killed and kept wrapped in blankets by her so-called lover for days, the centre stated.
More than 70 shacks were visited during the door to door awareness campaign, in which people were educated on services rendered by the centre.
According to Griqua, many unreported cases of abuse were uncovered during the campaign.
“We will see how best we can assist and provide social workers, psychosocial support and even more partners to help,” Griqua said in a statement.
During the campaign they also came across a woman who have been suffering for 14 years under the hand of her husband, who is apparently a member of the police.
It was also realised that the overgrown area provides cover for rapists and abusers to hide or to commit crimes. School girls confirmed incidents of sexual harassment and attempted rape in this veld when crossing it.
The centre calls on the Sol Plaatje Municipality to clear the area of bushes, and to provide more lighting. Furthermore, the centre made a clarion call to victims of abusive relationships to stop withdrawing cases after reporting it to the police, and rather opt for safe houses or shelters instead.
“We saw many ills and evil, and experienced first-hand the extreme misuse of substances.
“We saw many women who remain in abusive relationships because the perpetrator is the provider and she is unemployed,” stated Griqua.
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