The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe together with Acting Station Commander of Seshego Colonel Madimetja Flora Mokoka have on Sunday 08 May 2022,  joined the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mrs. Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, in receiving and signing the ‘memorandum of demands on Gender-Based Violence’ from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Polokwane Circuit Women’s League (ELCSA) during the church’s Mother’s Day Gathering.

In attendance were also the Capricorn District Commissioner, Major General Lesiba Mashilo, Dean Ngwako Timothy Machakaand members of the church

The Chairperson of ELCSA Women’s League presented the Memorandum to the attendees and Officials, which reads as follows:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Polokwane Circuit Prayer Women’s League hereby says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with Gender-Based Violence.

We therefore request that:

1. Cases of Gender-Based Violence be given priority and urgency they deserve.
2. Victims be assisted in a victim-friendly or alternative room, where a statement will be taken in private providing victim support services.
3. Victims of Gender-Based Violence must be treated with dignity, confidentially and be interviewed by trained Police Officers in a victim sensitive manner.
4. Victims be referred or taken for medical examination by the healthcare professional to obtain medical evidence and complete a medical report, including seeing to the health of the victim.
5. The investigation be conducted by Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigation Unit or detective with relevant training.
6. Victims of sexual offences, Femicide and Infanticide; and their families must be referred to victim support services that are available within the precinct for legal, medical, social and psychological help.
7. Families of victims of Gender-Based Violence be given the necessary support.
8. Victims be proactively and continuously given feedback on the progress of their cases.
9. Women and Children are emotionally abused and we request South African Police Service to treat victims with dignity.
10. Financial abuse happens when an abuser has control over finances in a relationship and withholds money from the victim. Often, a woman does not leave an abusive relationship because she fears she will not be able to provide for herself or her children.  Financial abuse can make the victim feel as if she can’t leave. In this case, we ask officers to deal with cases in a sensitive manner and advice victims to seek professional help.

The memorandum was signed and received by MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Provincial Commissioner and Seshego Acting Police Station Commander.

Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Radebe expressed her appreciation for the women of the church for coming forward to bring issues of their concern, particularly on Gender-Based Violence. The General said that Seshego is cited as one of the Policing areas with the highest rates of Gender-Based Violence including violence against children on the national database. She said Seshego, Mankweng and Thohoyandou have the highest statistics in these atrocious crimes against vulnerable members of our society. Most of the cases of GBV are influenced by issues of moral decay, that is why we need moral revival and institutions such as the church play an important role

MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mrs. Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhannya declared appreciation for the steps taken by women to assist the community and Police in eradicating Gender-Based Violence. She said members of the community need to come forward whenever they witness abuse because if the acts are not reported, the perpetrators continue abusing more women and children. We need to do more to protect children because when we do not, some of them will grow up to become broken members in our community and others, abusers. The MEC called for a moral regeneration of our communities.

All the members in attendance including the leadership of the church agreed with the action plan set in place by the South African Police Service and Department of Transport and Community Safety, to resolve all issues faced by victims and complainants of Gender-Based Violence and violence against children.

Source: South African Police Service