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News - Date: 22 February 2008
"People must fight against crime, rape, robbery and domestic violence and must aim to destroy this demon that is destroying our communities," said the station commissioner of Siloam Police, Sr Supt Romero van Niekerk, during the crime awareness campaign held at Khalavha last Friday.
Community members, religious leaders, CPF members, the youth, traditional leaders and SAPS members from Siloam police station gathered at Khalavha Community hall to address the challenges of crime that are affecting the community.
Van Niekerk indicated that the community and the SAPS must work together to eradicate the high crime rate and domestic violence in the area. He assured the community members who formed part of the gathering that the Siloam SAPS would take drastic measures to combat crime in Khalavha and other surrounding villages in which the station serves.
Van Niekerk also outlined the role of traditional leaders and said they must be respected as they are part of the history of the country. "We are very proud of our traditional leaders and our religious leaders because they provide us with the right directions to follow," he said.
He further emphasized that the war against crime can only be won if members of the SAPS and the community can join hands and work as a unit that enhances both the image of the institution and that of the community.
Mrs Verah Nemukongwe from the Department of Health and Social Development Vhembe District said that most of the domestic violence was caused by small things like maintenance of children and child support grants. "Some men feel that supporting children is a form of punishment, whereas they spend their money in alcohol and other things. The same applies to women who tend to forget the main purpose of the maintenance money is putting food on the table for the children and turn to misusing the money with boyfriends," says Nemukongwe.
She added that people also fight for child support grants. "On the other hand we have mothers who want to have more children, so that they can have access to child support grants, and as a result these mothers turn to misusing the money," Nemukongwe indicated.
Bishop Joel Mulaudzi of the Pastors’ Forum in the area argued that woman have the answer to domestic violence by breaking the silence when abused. He added: "Women tend to report that they are being abused after a long time of suffering." Mulaudzi stressed that combating a crime is a collective task of both the police and the community.
Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.
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