Newswatch Special Focus: #16DaysOfActivism
A scourge of violence against women and children rocked South Africa in 2019.
As the worldwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children got underway on Monday, the Newswatch team presents a special series of hard-hitting stories.
Under the theme 'Count Me In,' Newswatch will bring you closer to the stories that shook our province and country.
It will feature special reports daily, speaking to the survivors, major roleplayers and the affected families of these harrowing crimes.
In an extract from one of our survivors' interviews, this woman says she left her marriage after being assaulted by her ex-husband.
"It was on Christmas Day, I remember clearly at his mom's house when we were in the lounge watching a TV programme, and my daughter wanted to change the channel to one of her cartoon programmes. As a result of that, you know she was crying, and he became aggressive towards her on a special day."
"Being a mom, I tried to intervene and that's when he actually hit me blue and black into a pulp. My inner voice had spoken to me and I said that I have to break free from this abusive relationship and marriage and I had to find my purpose," she said.
On Tuesday, the KZN Social Development Department will launch its strategy to fight gender-based violence.
"We are revolutionising our campaigns to end the scourge of women and child abuse. It is about time we stop paying lip service to this issue, and we are therefore introducing practical strategies to end the scourge in our communities."
"We need all structures of the society to participate in this campaign. Traditional leaders, faith leaders, businesses, and political parties all have a role to play as we face this crisis," said MEC Nonhlanhla Mildred Khoza.
