“Keeping quiet about gender-based violence and abuse is no solution. It only gives the perpetrators more power to continue with their crimes against women and children.”

This is according to Lulama Mase, project manager at Kamesh Victim Support Centre, who last Friday, amidst dark clouds gathering on the horizon, marched through Kabah, where even darker clouds of domestic and gender-based violence as well as child abuse are hanging over women and children of this area where these crimes occur daily.

“We say enough is enough. But we really are way past enough. Domestic violence, child abuse, rape, sexual violence and gender-based violence are seriously escalating in this area. President Cyril Ramaphosa described gender-based violence as the second pandemic in our country; the difference is with GBV you should not cover your mouth but speak out,” said Mase.

“After the murder case of the Kabah couple Isaac Moses and Merlin Alkenstead, we had two cases of rape in the same area.

“Women and children are not safe at all. These crimes are too much, and the pain is too much as well. Women and children must no longer keep quiet, because not standing up against these crimes is also wrong.”

According to Mase the purpose of the march by the Kamesh Victim Support Centre in cooperation with the Kamesh police station and various other stakeholders, was to make the residents of Kabah aware of the centre and its services and to encourage victims to report these crimes to the centre or the police.

“We also did the march in commemoration of the murdered Singwa Namhla Mtwa from Mthatha who was shot nine times, allegedly by her boyfriend with whom she was in an abusive relationship for 17 years. She kept quiet through all those years because most probably she was afraid, but it proved that keeping quiet did not save her life.

“Women must know their rights. Now like never before, it is time for women to stand up for themselves.

“We live in fear, but fear can no longer control us. We need like the famous women’s march of 1956, to stand together and this time against the crimes against women and children. It is time again to sing together ‘You strike a woman, you strike a rock’,” said Mase.

The Kamesh Victim Support Centre assists victims of rape and abuse by offering them support and referring them to the closest victim service centres for professional counselling and guidance with regard to legal processes.

• For more information about the services of Kamesh Victim Support Centre call the Kamesh police station on 041 988 8729 or visit the centre at the police grounds.