With the gender-based violence (GBV) rate in South Africa being five times higher than the global average, it is essential for business, communities, government, law enforcement and NGOs to come together to help fight this scourge.

Recent crime statistics show that between January and March this year, a total of 10 512 rape cases were registered, which translates to around 116 cases of rape a day. During the same period 969 women and 245 children were murdered.

“South Africa has notoriously high levels of violence against women and children. We cannot operate like everything is normal, while women and children in this country are under attack,” says BLSA CEO Ms Busisiwe Mavuso.

On average it takes a GBV victim seven attempts before they leave a toxic relationship, while only 9% of child victims report being abused. It becomes easier for a victim to sum up the courage to finally walk out – and stay away – when they receive support from family, friends, and various organisations.

It is for this reason Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has once again partnered with Matla a Bana, an NGO that fights child abuse,  to create a facility with state-of the art audio and visual recording equipment that will assist forensic social workers at the Tembisa South Police Station to collect evidence from victims of GBV and sexual crimes.

Based at the Tembisa South Police Station, the facility will be used by the Tembisa SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, which focuses on high-priority cases and serves police stations in Tembisa, Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge, Edenvale, Olifantsfontein, Sebenza, Norkem Park, Kempton Park and OR Tambo.

“We are very concerned about the reporting of sexual abuse, especially in the light of the fact that recent crime stats show a decline in rape cases. As it is commonly accepted that rape is under-reported, one can only believe that victims and the general public do not trust the reporting system. We hope that by equipping and supporting the legal justice system, we can make a difference,” says Matla a Bana founder Monique Strydom.

“BLSA is committed to helping provide safe environments for the country’s most vulnerable citizens so they can easily report these crimes,” concludes Ms Mavuso.

During 2022 BLSA together with Matla a Bana allocated a state-of-the-art facility to the Moroka SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit at the Protea Glen Police Station in Soweto.

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For any media enquiries please contact Tumelo Muteme at
Tmuteme@businessleadership.org.za or 076 5388 502