The United Nations marked the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from November 25 to December 10, 2021. We at Cape {town} Etc will be using our platform to raise awareness over this period.
“Gender-based violence and femicide is not a secondary priority. It is not a women’s issue. Gender-based violence is overwhelmingly and unequivocally a human rights issue.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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Day 7: Remembering victims of gender-based violence
Before the COVID-19 virus was identified as a pandemic in the country, there was Gender-Based Violence (GBV). According to the latest crime statistics made available by the National Police Minister Bheki Cele for the months between July and September 2021, over 9 500 GBV cases were reported, and 13 000 cases of domestic violence.
However, this isn’t about statistics but to remember those who were victims of GBV, those who were silenced forever. The Western Cape has seen some of the most horrific GBV cases in the last decade, here are a few to mention:
The case of the slain University of Cape Town student Uyinene “Nene” Mrwetyana got extensive media coverage following the tragic 19-year-old’s death.
Mrwetyana was allegedly raped and brutally bludgeoned at the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont by one of its employees. Her death is one of many that has sparked national outrage at crimes against women, while her killer, Luyanda Botha, was handed down three life sentences for the heinous crime.
Jesse Hess, the first-year Theology student at the University of the Western Cape whose body was discovered along with her 85-year-old grandfather in an apartment in Parow on August 30.
Hess was found murdered in a Parow apartment on August 30, along with her 85-year-old grandfather. One of Hess’s killers, her 31-year-old relative, David van Boven stands trial for murder, however, the Western Cape High Court postponed the case until 2022.
The brutal murder of 21-year-old Stellenbosch student Hannah Cornelius in 2017 shocked the Western Cape as to how prominent and close-to-home the issue of violence against women truly is. Cornelius along with her friend Cheslin Marsh were hijacked and attacked in the early hours of May 27 2017 while sitting in Cornelius’s car in Stellenbosch.
Their attackers threatened Cornelius with a screwdriver while coercing Marsh to climb into the back of the vehicle. Cornelius was then brutally assaulted, raped and murdered where her body was later discovered at the edge of a vineyard where it had been unceremoniously dumped, while Marsh, was beaten and left for dead near Kraaifontein. Her killers were sentenced to a combined 358 years of imprisonment.
Cape Town woman, Jacqueline Mpontsana was working as a community safety worker who tracked police compliance regarding domestic violence, assisting victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence was drenched in petrol, allegedly by her partner at his Gugulethu home. She later died in hospital.
Sinathi Magqazana, a 24-year-old mother from Hermanus was allegedly bludgeoned to death with a hammer on September 11. Her body was found in a refuse bag, while fingers point towards her boyfriend as the perpetrator, as the refuse bag containing her remains were found at the door of his shack in Marikana informal settlement.
The 16-year-old Franziska Blöchliger, who was tragically murdered in Newlands forest. Blöchliger’s body was discovered in Dennendal Road, two hours after she was reported missing.
At the time of her disappearance, it was reported that was jogging through the forest. Her killer, Howard Oliver, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
These cases mentioned above is just a harsh reality of GBV in the province and in South Africa. Earlier in the year, the Western Cape’s Department for Social Development (DSD) announced that they have successfully implemented a Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP), which has seen its service reach 5 701 victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
According to the department, the programme enables more women to step forward and seek support as GBV remains a second pandemic in the country. The department said the number of people accessing the VEP services has increased from 2 518 to 5 701 over a one-year period as people make use of psychosocial support, prevention of ongoing victimisation, and shelter services.
Gender based violence resources South Africa:
- Rape Crisis Cape Town Hotline: 021 447 9762
- South African GBV Hotline: 0800 428 428
- Tears Foundation: 010 590 5920 / www.tears.co.za / [email protected]
- Childline South Africa: 0800 055 555 / www.childline.org.za / [email protected]
- People Opposed to Woman Abuse: 011 642 4345 / www.powa.co.za / [email protected]
- Community Intervention Centre Helpline: 082 821 3447
- Free Legal Advice on WhatsApp (LawForAll): 063 603 3759
- Stop Domestic Violence Helpline (Lifeline): 0800 150 150
- Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567
- SAPS: 10111
- National Counselling Line: 0861 322 322
- Legal Aid: 0800 110 110
Useful websites:
Also read:
Day 6: Gender-based violence statistics are rising at a rapid rate
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery