TSHAKHUMA – Recent figures show that 370 women and children are raped every month in the Vhembe District. In reaction to this, Correctional Services Regional Commissioner Watson Tshivhase has called on men to change their behaviour. He was the guest during the 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and children campaign held at the Tshisimani Community Hall last Friday.

Tshivhase said that the purpose of this campaign was to generate an increased level of awareness amongst South Africans, pertaining to the incidences of violence perpetuated against women and children. “Perpetrators of these offences must change their behaviour,” he added. “Men and boys must be actively engaged in the discourse concerning combating violence at home and the workplace.”

Two years ago, this particular campaign was staged in Thohoyandou because out of one thousand police stations in the country, the Vhembe district was found to be at the top of the list concerning numbers of rape incidents. News of the escalation of rapes, domestic violence and other forms of abuse even reached president Thabo Mbeki, who adopted Thohoyandou Police Station in an attempt to bring stability in this area.

Tshivhase said that the Department of Safety and Security needed to create consciousness about domestic violence amongst the whole population, and it needed to be made clear that abusing women, children, the elderly and the disabled was simply unacceptable.

For the past years, individuals, organisations and governments around the world have come together on an annual basis to observe the 16 Days of Activism in order to raise awareness of all forms of violence and abuse directed at women and children in our various communi-ties. “We need to ask ourselves the question as to whether there has been any progress, and if not, the reasons for failure must be looked at,” Tshivase continued.

In addition to this, Tshivhase said there must be an integration of programmes between the government, civil society and the private sector, and that they must combine their resources to have maximum impact in fighting criminals. “It is ironic that most acts of violence and abuse against women, children, the elderly and disabled are committed in the sanctity of the home, work and schools,” he concluded.