A fearless leader in a safe haven
Women, children’s centre’s McLeod reflects on 14 years of helping abuse victims
SHE IS known as a fearless advocate for women and children and serves as chief executive at the Saartjie Baartman Centre. Shaheema McLeod has decided to call its quits after 14 years at the helm and she said her decision to retire was not an easy one to make.
“I have pondered about it for a few months and finally notified the board in July. It was because I think if you are in this field and you are working with victims of crime and violence you have a shelf life and there’s only so much you can take on.
“I walked in to do a feasibility study. In fact back then I was working in the exporting industry. I was asked by a friend to do a feasibility study on their economic and empowerment programme. That was meant to take me about three months and then I didn’t leave,” she said.
McLeod said she enjoyed the interaction with the women and therefore decided to stay. Her daily routine for the past 14 years was extremely unpredictable and could change in a matter of seconds.
“I start at 8.30am with a specific task, but as situations unfold you have to drop everything and just be available.
“Often I am called on to engage with various government departments and role players,” McLeod said.
“If there is a wrong it has to be corrected, it’s not achieved through me alone. For me, I think in terms of my legacy, is if you believe in something you have to fight for it. People have to be seen as equal,” she said.
Over the years McLeod has been outspoken on a wide range of issues affecting women and children in the country.
In August she was part of the call for an increase in child support grants. She also raised concerns about crimes against children after the release of the crime statistics this year. However, very often her calls for tougher legislation and policy changes fall on deaf ears.
“It is frustrating, but if we back down no one is going to pay attention or try to effect change, so we remain steadfast in our approach,” she said.
McLeod’s family has been extremely supportive over the 14 years. She and her husband have three children. “That’s one of the reasons why I decided to give up my work and that’s to spend more time with my family, because when you are in this line of work you have to be available 24/7 so you drop things to sort out a situation,” she said.
McLeod will be leaving the “hospital feel” centre at the end of the month.
“I have no clue what I am going to do. In this line of work you are also compelled to have or encouraged to have an external supervisor, sort of like a therapist.
“One doesn’t know how the exposure to violence affects your life, so I’ve been advised to take a six-month break and I will then figure out what I will do next,” she said. – marvin.charles@inl.co.za