Scenario 6: To quote a woman who the system has failed: “This is how so many women feel and this is exactly why abuse rarely gets reported because women are made to feel like they're a burden. When is this going to stop? We get abused by someone we love and trust and then when we do build up the courage or get the chance to report it, we get emotionally and mentally abused by the ‘protectors’ of this country. So, who do we trust?” Based on these very few scenarios we have a better understanding of the real- life challenges women have to face when dealing with the acts of GBV. A seamless narrative that constantly comes through many of these stories is how unreliable the justice system is at the moment.
If we are to take a closer look at the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, the strategy makes provision for Rapid Response Teams (RTT) at a regional and local level. These RRTs are to comprise stakeholders from the Department of Justice, South African Police Services (SAPS), and civil society which includes NGOs, service providers, survivor networks, and religious groupings. An excellent initiative as these teams are envisioned to unlock bottlenecks, prevent secondary victimisation, ensure justice and make referrals for counselling.
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Dec 2022 | Collective Action Magazine
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