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Women and children are the worst affected by crime in South Africa, the recent crime statistics for the first quarter of 2022 showed. They painted a grim picture of a sharp increase in the reported number of people, mostly women and children, who were murdered and raped in the country.

“It is safe to say that women and children in South Africa are under attack, says Ms Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA). “The number of rapes and murders against these vulnerable groups is alarming and much more needs to be done. This war cannot be won by victims alone – NGOs, the SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority and communities as a whole need to work together to fight this scourge against women and children.” She says victims need to be protected and suspects need to feel the full might of the law.”

To help fight the scrouge of gender-based violence (GBV), BLSA has partnered with Matla a Bana – an NGO that fights GBV and creates child-friendly reporting facilities at police stations, courts and hospitals.

The partnership has resulted in the purchase of a shipping container, with state-of the art audio and visual recording equipment, that will assist forensic social workers to collect evidence from victims for the arrest and prosecution of GVB and sexual crime perpetrators.

The facility, based at the Protea Glen Police Station in Soweto, will be used by the Moroka SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. This unit focuses on high-priority areas with regards to GBV and serves several police stations including Moroka, Jabulani, Naledi, Protea Glen, Lenasia South, Ennerdale, Dobsonville and Doornkop

Matla a Bana will also ensure that frontline staff members at the police station receive training on how they should treat and assist victims of GBV and sexual crimes. All children who are victims of sexual abuse who are assisted will receive comfort packs including a small toy and toiletries.

Although Matla a Bana predominantly assists children, victims of all ages will have access to the facility.

“I thank and applaud the management and partners of BLSA for having the vision to undertake such a project. We need children to have safe environments where they can disclose, and caretakers, teachers and parents to listen carefully when these children disclose. More support
services in the form of therapy for victims of abuse are needed. Everyone needs to come together on this one – otherwise we are going to sit with generations of broken people,” says Monique Strydom, CEO Matla A Bana.

Issued by Business Leadership South Africa