once believed to be places of
to deal with rape and violence
healthy families and creating
safety which attracted salt-of-the-
against women but changing
environments that allow children
earth people, but of late, more
societal values and dealing with
to thrive.”
and more are being exposed
misogyny are challenges that still
as places where women and
need to be overcome.
children are made vulnerable to abuse.
“There are laws of government
She added that the beast of violence against women needs to be tackled from all angles.
that are strict against rape and vi-
“Society tends to focus solely on
“It’s not that we or anybody else
olence. I encourage women who
the women who are victims, but
are against churches, but we call
are being abused to stand up for
there are also perpetrators in
for the regulation of churches to
their rights and seek help from
the equation. They must also be
make sure that they are doing
social workers and the justice sys-
counselled and rehabilitated. We
what they say they are doing,”
tem. They must not keep quiet. If
must remember that there are
she added.
they are married, it’s a husband’s
boys who get abused and even
In October, MEC Dyantyi and
obligation to take care of them. It
boys who abuse and rape girls.
other high-ranking women led a
does not mean they must let their
“Recently, I visited a juvenile
march in protest of gender-based
husbands abuse them.”
violence (GBV) and called for churches to be regulated. She noted one of the most disturbing aspects of GBV is that
She confirmed that more wom-
centre and a girl who had been a victim of rape offered to take
en are in fact standing up and
me around. She was 16 and said
exposing abuse. “That is encour-
she had been raped by her uncle
aging,” said MEC Dyantyi.
from the age of seven,” said MEC
women often support the person
Dyantyi.
Don’t overlook the perpetrators
the juvenile centre revealed to
The MEC said government should
her that they had raped girls and
chy does to women. It pits them
also work with the Department of
expressed regret for their actions.
against one another in support
Justice and Correctional Services
of men.”
to rehabilitate perpetrators. She
being accused of rape, rather than the child or woman involved. “This is exactly what patriar-
Changing societal values “Patriarchy is that entrenched
said more men’s forums need to
Partnering in the fight against abuse
be established to help teach men
MEC Dyantyi said her department
what it takes to be a real man
is working closely with non-profit
who nurtures rather than hurts.
organisations (NPOs) to deal with
in our society,” she said, adding that more empowered women
She added some of the boys at
“More men must stand up and say: ‘Not in our name’.”
need to find ways to support
MEC Dyantyi said strong family
violence against women and children. Every year, the provincial social development department
other women made vulnerable
units must be at the core of efforts
calls for proposals, giving NPOs
through patriarchy. One platform
to curb violence against women.
an opportunity to demonstrate
is women’s forums which allow
“This is not just a social develop-
what they can do for victims.
women to support one another.
ment responsibility. Partnerships
MEC Dyantyi said the laws in
with other government depart-
meet our criteria get financial
the country are strong enough
ments are essential to building
support,” she said, adding
Public Sector Manager • November 2018
“Those that are registered and
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