The way to combat gender-based violence is to speak out; many women may feel too alone to do so, which is why these incredible South African women are sharing their stories.
South Africa (09 December 2021) – Gender-based violence is the plague of South Africa and it is on the rise throughout the country. We could share the stats to make an impact but it is the stories themselves that carry the most weight, spur up the most outrage and will create the most change.
These are the stats… Between June 2020 and April 2021, the South African Police Service (SAPS) reported 1 100 cases of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) in which the victim was assaulted by their intimate partner. Of the murders reported during this period, 22 were perpetrated by an intimate partner of the victims and 19 by husbands of victims.
Harrowing stuff! You may wonder how sharing the stories of gender-based violence would bring about change and the answer is simple. The more we speak out, the more people realise they are not alone and that they too can speak out!
“It is sometimes difficult for survivors of abuse to come out and try to break the cycle of violence. I think for the people around such women, we need to hear her, we need to remind her that it’s not her fault and above all, we need to believe her,” – POWA Acting Executive Director, Jeanette Sera.
“Donate Your Voice” is an initiative launched by Joko and POWA (People Opposing Woman Abuse) during this year’s 16 Days of Activism. Local celebrities and influencers, DJ’s and presenters donated their voices to share the harrowing stories of domestic abuse.
Several incredibly brave South African women stepped forward to share their stories. These stories are harrowing but they are also emboldened by hope and have the power to empower other women in the same situations, to walk away and get help.
If these stories inspire even one woman to report her attacker, they have changed a life! As we read each one, we can clearly see the woman standing in front of us, claiming back her life with every word. They have each chosen to share their story in their own way.
“THE DARK SIDE OF LOCKDOWN”
“My partner had always been abusive but after he lost his job during the pandemic, things became worse. He hit me, swore at me. I was the breadwinner, but he demanded money for alcohol and drugs. I moved my family to a new home. But he found me. And he beat me up. The beatings continued until they had to take my children away from me to keep them safe.
I escaped again; this time to a POWA shelter. Through counselling, I found my confidence. I’m now studying, and I’ve written a book that tells my story. Too many women have suffered during lockdown; they need to know you can break free” – Yolanda Sibeko
“LIKE A HAMMER TO THE HEAD”
“Physical pain. Emotional turmoil. Insults that reduced me to nothing. Jealousy. Lies. Paranoia. He was a drug addict and a master at mind games. One day, when he couldn’t get inside my head, he smashed a hammer into my head.
The day he used my money to pay for a prostitute, I finally told him to leave. But I was the one to move jobs, move houses! I secured a restraining order. I faced him in court, and he realised how strong I really was.
Why did I stay so long?
Maybe it was because my father was never around, and I needed the validation of a man. But after 5 long years of hell, I am finally free.” – Rahima Ally
“SEVEN DAYS IN I.C.U.”
“I dated him for seven years. He often swore at me in front of people, and I always kept quiet. But the one day I swore back at him, he beat me up so badly that I was hospitalized for seven days. He never even phoned or came to see me.
I opened an assault case, but he was never arrested. Before I went for counselling, I thought that being abused was my fault because I had pushed him too far. But now I realise that I never deserved it. I felt enormous relief.
Being part of a support group has also made me aware that I’m not alone. Others are going through the same, if not worse.” – Lerato Sebolelo
It takes strength for the survivors of domestic violence in South Africa to speak out, help #EndDomesticSilence and donate your voice to get survivor stories heard at www.joko.co.za
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