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GBV victims in Free State open up about their trials and tribulations amid 16 Days of Activism

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Victims of Gender-Based Violence in the Free State have opened up about their trials and tribulations during the provincial launch of 16 Days of Activism in Bloemfontein.

More young women, who were part of the launch, detailed their harrowing experiences that led to them being on the wrong side of the law.

23-year old Thembi Nomganga is currently out on parole after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of a man, who allegedly wanted to rape her and a friend because they are lesbians.

Nomganga says three days after the fight, the man died and she was arrested for his death. Nomganga says society needs to change the way it treats women.

“We were sentenced and I got released on parole in 2018. The reason behind the attack was our sexual orientation. We are women who date other women and in the eyes of the man that ended up dying we were making ourselves men and to him it was wrong because he was a man. That’s why he wanted to rape us he wanted to show us we are women.”

Another parolee from Virginia in the Free State says she suffered abuse from her jealous boyfriend, who always demanded money from her.

25-year old Dimpho Melato says she stabbed her boyfriend to death in self-defense. Melato, who spent eight years in jail, detailed her ordeal during the provincial government launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in Bloemfontein.

“Okay, I ended up in prison because of my boyfriend. I stabbed my boyfriend once. So I went to prison for 8 years. Within these 8 years, I learned a lot of things. I have a license, I went to school. I went to book clubs everything that could destruct my mind.”

Numbers relating to GBV:

Social Development MEC Mamiki Qabathe agreed that Gender-Based Violence is a major challenge.

“It’s a serious issue the issue of Gender-Based Violence and femicide. More so because the numbers are increasing. If you take the statistics that were released by minister Cele in April and compare them with the statistics that have just been taken out now in September. The numbers are tremendously increasing. Despite the fact that we are doing a lot more in terms of awareness. Hence this 16 Days of Activism for this year is moving from just awareness but also going to into accountability.”

Many survivors also spoke about poor handling of their cases at police stations. Free State Safety MEC, William Bulwane, says reports from complainants are an indication that the lack of empathy displayed by some of their members is a result of wrong training from the beginning.

“I think there’s a need for them to get know that there’s a deeper understanding and they must have more feelings on what is practically happening between the two people. And between the community itself without necessarily militarising the situation but being more of a service to a situation. So I think our policemen and women need a lot of training so that they understand this contradiction and the conditions that they operate under. So that they can give a better service to the people of South Africa.”

Men have been urged to be proactive citizens and ensure that women and children are saved from harm and abuse.

16 Days of Activism Campaign launch: 

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