Report cases of gender based violence

All South Africans have been urged to report any case of gender-based violence to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The spokesperson for the Commission for Gender Equality, Javu Baloyi, urged any person that may feel threatened in any way to report it to the police and apply for a protection order.

It is reported that a woman is murdered every four hours in South Africa, half of whom die at the hands of their partners. Furthermore, a health survey carried out by Stats SA reveals that one in five of women over 18 in South Africa have experienced violence by their partner. 17% of young women, between 18 and 24 years old, have experienced violence by a partner in the last year. Women between the ages of 14 and 29 accounted for about 39% of femicides (the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender) and African women accounted for about 78% of these. Almost 61% of femicides took place at the women’s place of residence.

A protection order, also called a restraining order or domestic violence interdict, is a court order that tells an abuser to stop the abuse and sets certain conditions preventing the abuser from harassing or abusing the victim again. According to the South African Police Service a protection order will prevent the respondent from committing any specified act of domestic violence or sexual harassment; entering the joint residence or a specific part of the residence; entering the victim’s residence if they are not living together; entering the victim’s place of employment or office and having contact with a child or children if it is in the best interest of the child. If a respondent contravenes any protection order, he or she can be arrested.

How to apply for a protection order:

• The complainant must make an affidavit and complete an application form at a police station.
• Supporting affidavits by persons who have knowledge of the matter in question may accompany the application.
• The documents must be handed to the clerk of the nearest court.
• The application for a protection order is not limited to the complainant.  Any person who has an interest in the well-being of the complainant may also apply.

Abuse cases can be reported at the nearest police station and gender discrimination can be reported to the Commission for Gender Equality at 0800 007 709.