Gallery
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Roleplayers, including the police, community policing forums and charity organisations, formed a human chain on 8 December at the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court and stood for one hour as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
The participants were standing in the human chain for victims of domestic violence who can no longer stand because they died at the hands of someone they loved and trusted.
PHOTO GALLERY: Human chain for 16 Days of Activism
They were also standing for the victims who are still breathing, but too afraid to stand up for themselves because the one they love is the one they fear.
"In a relationship where there is domestic violence, the offender and the victim could be male or female, could be a parent or child and could be young or old," says Deidre Swanepoel, one of the organisers of the human chain.
With this human chain, they were declaring war on domestic violence and having no mercy on offenders.
"The harsh reality of this crime is that the victims seldom get out of these relationships and domestic violence becomes just their normal way of life. Victims feel they can't get out of these relationships, because they are held hostage in their situation because they depend on the offender financially."
Swanepoel said the sad reality was that during these 16 days, it seemed these crimes increased and, in most cases, alcohol played a huge role.
Abuse happens, not just in shacks, but also in mansions and is not always just physical, but can be mental and financial too, she says Victims are too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.
The greater Mossel Bay Police Station and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) have started an online petition that will end in October 2023, to ask the Department of Justice to red flag repeat offenders and to start a register of convicted offenders.
To sign this petition online, go to https://chng.it/85FHZGv6YK.
Previous article: Too late is too late
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
