A network of dedicated women from the South African Police Services (SAPS), led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Celiwa Binta, handed gifts to the value R3 000 and a cheque of R2 000 to the Sidimela family, whose daughter, Nyelisani, survived a ritual murder attempt. The gifts included clothes, groceries, blankets and cosmetics.

Binta said the SAPS women decided to do something for Nyelisani to display their stance against the violence aimed at hurting women and children. She said the duty of the police is not only to arrest, but they can also act as counsellors when the need arises. Binta said the visit was also meant to encourage community members to break the silence on women and child abuse.

“As women in the SAPS, our hearts are bleeding with pain when we remember the cruelty that was done to Nyelisani. We were duty bound to display our moral support because Nyelisani is part of our community and her dreams were shattered by the cruel criminals who sliced off her lips”.

Binta said the SAPS is always available to assist communities in solving crimes like the one that befell Nyelisani. “Police alone cannot succeed in dealing with the problems of criminality and abuse against women and children that are experienced in this area. It is against this background that we sought the interventions and assistance from various structures within the community. The SAPS is doing this because we believe in the power of unity and we also believe that those who are affected by crime should be provided with an opportunity to ventilate their feelings so that they can be healed.”

She continued: “Currently, the SAPS is faced with many challenges in fighting the scourge of violence against women and children. We seriously condemn the raping, battering and killing of women for the simple reason that they are women and they are defenceless. When one looks at the many incidents of abuse of women, especially in this part of the country, it is like we, women, owe men something and we need to pay it back with our lives. We are tired of listening to stories of violence against women and children. We appeal to the communities to assist the police in cracking these cases so that we can have peace in our communities, so that women can raise and support their children free of abuse and violence. It is also our collective responsibility to protect women and children as they are the treasure of our society.”

Accepting the gifts and cheque on behalf of Nyelisani, who has been kept in a secret place, family member Booi Sidimela thanked the SAPS women for their kind support to the family.

“We promise you that you have left the gifts and cheque in good hands. They will reach their destination and Nyelisani will be filled with gratitude whenever she receives them,” he said.