The Domestic Violence Act, which comes into effect this year, should help address the high levels of women abuse in South Africa, but only if prevailing attitudes change.

Research conducted in preparation for Soul City 4, a television series currently being aired on SABC1, has brought to light the prevailing attitude that domestic violence is a private affair. "Friends and neighbours tend to turn a blind eye, even when they hear screams for help", says Dr Shereen Usdin, project manager of the Soul City series.

The research further revealed that many abused women were paralysed by an overwhelming sense of inevitability around domestic violence. Compounding the situation is a tremendous pressure exerted on women by their families and society at large to stay and make their marriages work, regardless of the cost. A study conducted in Gauteng by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation shows that every six days a women is killed by an abusive partner. "How can we as a society still say domestic violence is a private matter?" questions Usdin.

In passing the Domestic Violence Act, the state has acknowledged that domestic violence is not a private affair, and that it has a role to play in its prevention. The Domestic Violence Act has put meat to the provision in the Constitution which guarantees women the right to live free from violence in both the public and private spheres. It brings a ray of hope to the fight against women abuse.

The Act provides some mechanisms for women to address the problem of abuse, such as access to protection orders against their abusers. The police are also obliged under the new law to assist abused women.

They must inform a woman of her rights, help her to find a safe place to stay and get her medical attention if needed. Police who fail to comply will face disciplinary action. The Act also recognises abuse as having emotional and financial as well as physical dimensions and allows people to access protection even if they are not married or living with the abuser.

Soul City is a multi-media campaign that uses prime time television and radio drama as well as informational booklets to tackle development issues. The radio dramas are broadcast on nine different stations in nine different languages and the booklets are distributed throughout South Africa. The combined material reaches an audience of millions.

Usdin is hoping that Soul City 4 will help address violence against women by informing women of their rights according to the new Domestic Violence Act and by encouraging communities to take an active stand on violence against women.

The series illustrates some of the ways in which individuals and communities can help abused women. According to Usdin: "Friends, relatives and co-workers are encouraged to support abused women. Many women internalise the emotional abuse from their partners and may be demoralised and believe they are to blame. People can help by being a good listener and telling the woman that domestic violence is against the law and that nobody deserves to be beaten, regardless. Encouraging her to seek help, accompanying her to the police station, court or clinic, or offering to look after her children while she does so are all concrete ways to provide support."

The storyline includes a scene where the community shows their disapproval by banging pots and pans so loudly that the abuser is forced to stop the violence. They send out a strong message to the abuser that the community believes violence against women is unacceptable. Viewers who are spurred on to find out more about the Domestic Violence Act, want to give help to abused women or need help themselves can phone a toll-free number supplied by the Department of Justice together with the National Network on Violence Against Women.

Online counselling will be available as well as referrals to community based organisations for ongoing support. The organisations are members of the National Network, which is working with the fourth series of Soul City to address violence against women. The Network is a coalition of government and non-governmental organisations working to eradicate violence against women.

Soul City is currently on air on Wednesdays at 8:30pm on SABC 1. The project is sponsored by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the European Union, Kagiso Trust, Old Mutual and BP.

Police and Courts Must Play Important Role in Domestic Violence Act

 

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