BRACKENFELL
Woensdag, 11 Desember 2019 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
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’Tis the season to be jolly! Brackenfell’s own singing policeman Sgt. Etienne Jonas entertaining Nadia Malan, during a party held on World Disability Day last Tuesday 3 December at Paarl School. Bok Radio’s charity organisation HOOP collaborated with the police to spoil 220 children at the school. More pictures on page 4. PHOTO: THABANG KUAHO
SILENT KILLER: THERE IS HELP
Domestic violence rife DESIRÉE RORKE @dezzierorke
D
omestic violence is rife in Brackenfell. Incidences of domestic violence are not intrinsically recorded in the national crime statistics, but rather reflected in other crime categories like assault and sexual crimes. During the last financial year some 250 such crimes were reported to Brackenfell police, but, according to GPF chair Werner
Victor, is not by far a true reflection of domestic violence in Brackenfell. The spotlight was shone on the issue when Brackenfell police launched its campaign for 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children, at the start of the month. Victor says incidents of domestic violence are high, but often victims do not report the abuse or refuse to lay criminal charges. He says it is often linked to alcohol abuse, where the abuser when sober again, promi-
ses to “never to it again”, until next time. “This is not a crime that can be directly addressed by the police if the community does not speak out or report abuse against women and children. People tend to stay uninvolved, but if you see your neighbour’s wife being beaten up, will you only speak up when its too late for her?” Victor says legislation and processes are in place but often only looks pretty on paper, but in reality much harder to apply. “These difficulties will have to be addres-
sed by our judiciary,” he says. Capt Erica Crous, spokesperson at Brackenfell police agrees that domestic violence is a grim reality in Brackenfell. “It happens on all levels of society and we can’t deny it. It is a silent killer and women stay trapped due to fear. They are emotionally and psychologically conditioned and feel they don’t deserve any better, while the truth is that there is a way out and the sky is the limit when you decide to make the choice.” V To page 3
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