Government’s campaign of 16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children officially starts today. Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has urged victims of Gender Based Violence to use the department’s toll-free helpline for support. Dlamini says victims of abuse who call the toll-free 24 hour line will get immediate counselling from social workers. She says the services are also linked to the SAPS, the Emergency Management Services and the Department of Health.
The department’s spokesperson Lumka Oliphant says: “The gender based violence command centre was opened by the minister of social development Ms Bathabile Dlamini to make sure that victims of Gender based violence have a place to go to. The gender based command centre can be reached on 0800 428428
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has appealed to police officers to refrain from openly talking to rape victims in front of other people when they report incidents of rape at police stations but to assist them privately. Kubayi-Ngubane addressed a crowd of about 2 000 people during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign in Ga-Maria village in Mpumalanga. She says police officers must also assist men who are abused. – Additional reporting by ANA
