Victims of all forms of gender based violence were urged to report the matter as soon as it happens, so that the police can act quickly.

The call was made by Limpopo’s Thohoyandou Cluster Commander, Brig Nelson Marungane, during the Limpopo men’s indaba, aimed at creating awareness about gender-based violence and its prevention.

The indaba, which was held at the 2 Ten Hotel a fortnight ago, was organised by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), in conjunction with the SAPS, Sonke Gender Justice Network, the Munna Ndi Nnyi? men’s forum and the Commission on Gender Equality.

“We as police officers have found that most of the victims of gender-based violence kept silent or reported the matter very late. People should not take so long to report abuse,” said Marungane. He added that they were worried that some gender-based violence cases were not reported, “because perpetrators are breadwinners in the family”. The victims are afraid to report because, if the perpetrator were arrested and charged, the family members would be left without any one to support them financially."

The media relations manager of the Sonke Gender Justice Network, Mr Mbuyiselo Botha, stressed that men should not keep quiet about gender-based violence. “They must raise their voices at home, in their workplaces and also in their places of worship.”

Kgosigadi Nchabeleng, who represented the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, said that “it is our responsibility to create and keep a violence-free society, by engaging communities to report gender-based violence to the police”.