KNYSNA NEWS - The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in the Greater Knysna area was officially started at St George's Anglican Church in Main Road, Knysna, on Monday 25 November.
At the beginning of a ceremony held to launch the campaign, Father Rudi Laws said there was "a deep level of separation and a disconnect between people and God", and he hoped the campaign would be used by God "to bring healing (and) 16 days of new life, new beginnings, new hope".
The launch of the campaign was a partnership between the Knysna SAPS, the departments of Correctional Services and Social Development, the Community Police Forum and Knysna municipality.
Speakers at the church included the commander of the Knysna Police Station, Colonel F de Wet, councillor Beauty Charlie, and Pastor Michael Smith, chairperson of the Knysna SAPS Spiritual Desk.
Councillor Beauty Charlie
Alcohol consumption
De Wet quoted President Cyril Ramaphosa as saying that gender-based violence (GBV) was "corroding the soul of our nation", and he said 85% of all domestic violence that took place in homes in the Knysna region was committed by people known to the victims, including ex-husbands, friends and boyfriends.
Alcohol was closely associated with violent behaviour, and the majority of GBV cases were reported on Friday and Saturday nights, when there was an increase in alcohol consumption.
"Why is liquor so readily available until 4am?" De Wet said.
After the ban on alcohol sales during Covid, there had been a dramatic decline in the rate of violence against women and children.
'Dangerous people'
He said people should try to "eradicate the opportunity for crime".
"Don't let dangerous people into your home or drink with them. Watch parolees. If a parolee is drinking late, violating his parole, the community must tell us, so we can withdraw the parole," he said.
The incidence of crime against women and children could be reduced if all members of society became involved in efforts to counter it.
'Take ownership, responsibility'
"If we take ownership (of the situation), take responsibility, we can overcome crime as a community," he said.
De Wet urged members of the community who lodged cases not to withdraw them, as "the cycle will continue".
Charlie said "women should not hold back from naming family abusers because they rely on their income".
'Don't be silent'
"We have a responsibility as a community to say what we saw - and not hold back when witnessing a crime against a woman," she said.
"We need to go back to God to stop violence and atrocities."
The Knysna SAPS Woman's Network Choir performed worship songs at the ceremony, attended by over 100 people, many representing organisations.
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