As you may know, Sonke has been working in Dutywa (iDutywa)in the Eastern Cape, trying to ensure the proper prosecution of two murder cases…one of a pregnant woman who was stabbed in the stomach, the other of a woman (Sandiswa Mhlawuli, a 27-year-old mother of two) who was pulled out of a taxi and stabbed to death in front of witnesses by her ex (the same day that she finally received a protection order against him.) You can read more about Sandiswas murder in the link below. The accused murderer was freed without any bail, and Sonke staff, along with community members and a community action team (CAT) in the area mobilised repeatedly over the past few months calling for justice and trying to get the case properly prosecuted. Today, July 14th, we are told that the trial will finally commence, about 7 months following Sandiswas murder. In addition to mobilising around the justice system processes, Sonke has done a number of workshops and community engagements in the area this year to promote positive parenting and encourage fathers to be actively involved in their childrens lives and share the responsibility of childcare, and also to mobilise the communities of Chafutweni and Roma to participate positively in efforts that seek to prevent all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). On Thursday, a MenCare+ workshop was held with around 25 men from Roma Village around men and positive parenting. On Friday, there was a training for community action team (CAT) members from Roma and Chafutweni focusing on primary prevention of GBV and What CATs can do to ensure justice is advanced in cases like these. In addition to door-to-door outreach, additional outreach was done via a local Methodist Church this weekend to raise awareness on gender-based violence and what role can the church play. Today, there will be a mass demonstration in front of the Butterworth regional court. Sonke has also been working closely with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) to put pressure on officials/police/justice system so that Sandiswas murder is properly prosecuted. Research from the South African Law Commission (SALC) in 2001 tracked cases that were reported to the South African police and found that for every 100 violent crimes (murder, rape and aggravated robbery) reported, in only six cases had ˜the perpetrators been convicted after more than two years*. For more information, email [email protected] RESOURCES: JUSTICE FOR SANDISWA: genderjustice.org.za/articles/justice-for-sandiswa.html CONVICTION STATS IN SOUTH AFRICA: *issafrica.org/iss-today/the-problem-with-south-african-criminal-justice-performance-indicators
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 07:15:56 +0000