THOHOYANDOU - The Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme (TVEP) is extremely worried about the escalation of domestic violence and women and children abuse in the Vhembe District.

Last week, two women and their children were killed in domestic family feuds at the Itsani and Gondeni area. The man who killed his wife and a child at Itsani committed suicide at Tshitomboni and the man who killed his wife and a child at Gondeni committed suicide at his home.

According to available statistics, within a month, at least five children were killed, more than 20 were raped. Still others are raped and keep the secret to protect their breadwinners who abuse them sexually and physically.

“Since we opened in Sept 2001, and up until end of April 2005 (44 months), we have assisted in 950 cases of sexually assaulted children and 705 of sexually assaulted women. The total number of reported sexual assaults per month is more than 38, of which 57% of victims are under the age of 18,” said the programme director of TVEP, Ms Fiona Nicholson.

“Tragically, every month we assist an average of about 12 sexually assaulted children under the age of 13,” she said.

According to Ms Fiona Nicholson, changing men’s attitudes takes a long time and people must stand up to report if domestic violence occurs around the communities.

She also expressed her concern about the lack of committment from the Thulamela Municipality has towards the eradication of gender violence. “They do not even show any interest in learning about the extent of the problem. Our repeated invitation to partner us in our activities has been consistently ignored - they do not even bother to respond to letters,” she said.