In an effort to tackle gender-based violence and domestic violence, Nonceba Family Counselling centre held an workshop with stakeholders in Khayelitsha, at their premises, on Friday June 28.
The aim of the workshop was to create a platform for stakeholders to engage about the underlying factors that spark violence.
Facilitator at Nonceba family Counselling, Phumeza Mbiyozo, said people confuse common assault with gender-based violence. She said one of the biggest contributing factors is that people take these matters lightly and do not report it.
“That has somewhat made it like a norm in our areas when it should not be,” she said.
She said when people are in a relationships, issues like power, control and finances can become points of conflict.
“The community at large plays a role in promoting violence by tolerating it and men still fear to report cases because they fear humiliation,” she said.
She said that sometimes daughters are discouraged from seeking help when they turn to their families about abuse in their marriages.
“The family would tell her soldier on or to fix the marriage,” she said. “Speak up when you are being abused, do not die in silence.”
Men must also be allowed to express their emotions, she said, adding that buried emotions can lead to violence or suicide.
“This dialogue was different because people were given a platform to put forward their views and ways of combating such social ills. We are going to monitor the impact of these programmes and we do not want this to be just a talkshop with no follow through,” she said.
Abigail Women’s Movement organisation coordinator, Nonzame Sili, said it was critical that they engage with an effort to implement what they have learnt at their organisations.
Lingelethu West Police station spokeswoman, Sergeant Xoliswa Nyalambisa, encouraged the attendees to report such matters to police and not to feel afraid. She said if people feel that they are have not been served well they can report it the station commander.
