PMB is an epicentre of

The relentless upsurge in gender-based violence (GBV) has left many women and children in South Africa living in crippling fear of being brutally killed, raped and abused on a daily basis.

This problem can be found on our own doorstep, with the Plessislaer preceinct ranking third in rape cases nationally. This, coupled with the high murder rate, has led to the Sweetwaters area being notoriously referred to as the capital for the rape and murder of grandmothers and young girls.

Local NPO, Umzansi Youth in Business (UYB), is actively involved in raising awareness against GBV. The organisation also assists victims. The chief executive officer (CEO) of UYB, Mbongeni Zuma, said its weekly awareness pickets around the city have highlighted the lack of education about GBV within communities. “Majority of individuals believe GBV is solely the physical act of beating another individual. This leads to excluding variants, such as emotional, mental, sexual and verbal abuse, and economic or education deprivation,” he said.

UYB has also found that many communities condone

“hitting” women as a form of reprimanding bad behaviour.

UYB hosts anti-GBV pickets every Thursday morning at different hotspots and traffic circles throughout the city. Following these pickets, they have also experienced an increase in GBV cases reported to the organisation. “Although the stories are heartbreaking, one positive outcome is that victims are now able to speak about the abuse they’ve experienced. The job of raising awareness has not gone unnoticed. This is evident in the support we receive weekly from various organisations, departments, individuals and other stakeholders,” Zuma said.

UYB’s GBV unit has a range of programmes focused on empowering young women and educating men, including the VETO campaign which donates sanitary packs to underprivileged girls within Msunduzi through the donations of loyal citizens and stakeholders. The aim of this campaign is to boost girls’ self-esteem, educate them on hygiene and alleviate the stigma attached to menstruation.

UYB believes the solution in curbing the scourge of GBV lies in consistency of law enforcement. “The current laws and regulations put into place for dealing with perpetrators should apply consistently across the board, regardless of whether the perpetrator is a high profile individual or a regular citizen,” said Zuma, stressing the importance of also supporting the victims. “There should be a safe space created for victims to report their cases. They should never feel a sense of not being trusted when coming forward.”

UYB works closely with the Department of Social Development, and has 12 social workers employed at the centre. Additionally, the victims and their families are assisted through psychosocial counselling for the purpose of improving wellbeing, alleviating distress and enhancing coping skills. UYB also empowers young women by putting them through skills development programmes to promote independence and generate income for their households.

Speaking to Capital Newspapers, Itumeleng Moloko, a counselling services manager at the organisation People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), said GBV and femicide have been declared national crises by the president and requires civil society organisations, government departments, individuals, communities and the private sector to join hands in addressing the scourge. “Report abuse or speak out. Abuse thrives in isolation. Perpetrators find power to abuse when the victim is alone and no one knows about what is happening to her. Continuous awareness and education must be done to challenge socialisation with cultural beliefs and practices that perpetuate gender inequality. The patriarchy must be challenged in the strongest possible way.

All citizens must be treated with respect and have equal opportunities. Perpetrators must receive harsh sentences and receive proper rehabilitation in correctional services,” said Moloko.