Thohoyandou - Churches, traditional authorities and civic organisations in Limpopo have been urged to help expose those who abuse women and children.
Provincial Roads and Transport MEC Pinkie Kekana made the appeal at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against the abuse of women and children in Thohoyandou on Thursday. The 16-day period kicks off today.
"Some of the women who are raped or abused are cast into a web of silence. We believe that if church leaders, traditional leaders and community-based organisations can invite victims of abuse to speak up and promise to protect them, the perpetrators will be exposed," said Kekana.
She said it was common for victims of violence and sexual assault not to report cases to the police.
"The reasons may include fear of public ostracism, feeling that family integrity is at stake as well as an apprehension that the victim's children might feel humiliated if they knew what had happened to their mother," she said.
The Vhembe District Municipality had identified many cases of abuse that were not reported.
Kekana also encouraged victims of abuse not to remain silent, saying they suffered emotional and psychological trauma.
"We must continue to support victims of sexual abuse or any other violence and encourage them to report their situation to the law enforcement authorities," she added.
The MEC added that alcohol and drug abuse were other major causes of domestic violence.
The Limpopo-based men's forum, Munna ndi nnyi (who is the real man), which encourages men to be responsible husbands, applauded the MEC for challenging the community.
"We are not happy with the level of abuse in our communities. Our organisation has assisted a lot of women who came complaining about being physically, mentally or financially abused by their partners," said the forum's health coordinator Aluwani Netshandama.
