You
can apply for a Protection Order which can protect you from further abuse.
How
are you being abused?
Physical
abuse:
pushing, slapping, punching, kicking, burning, biting, stabbing.
Verbal
abuse:
putting you down, name- calling, yelling, and belittling you.
Sexual
abuse:
having sex with you against your will, making you do sexual things you don’t
want to do.
Controlling
your movement: or keeping you locked in the house, isolating
you from family and friends, monitoring your phone calls.
Economic
abuse:
taking away your money, refusing to provide enough money for household
expenses, not paying maintenance when he can afford to do so.
Abusing
power:
always claiming to be right, telling you what to do, and making decisions without
consulting you.
Threat
with guns or knives: attempting to scare or kill you or
your children.
Forced
entry:
making uninvited calls and visit, refusing to leave when asked.
Stalking
you:
following you wherever you go, phoning you all the time to check where you are?
Saying
the abuse is your fault: pretending that he never hurt you,
blaming all his problems on you.
Abusing
your children: verbal and physical abuse, sexual abuse, forcing
your children to monitor your telephone calls or who visit you, using your
children to steal.
Damaging your
property: tearing your clothes, burning your belongings, destroying important
documents, e.g. ID book/ passport, damaging your furniture.
Who
do I contact?
If you need
more information or help with a problem of domestic violence you can:
- Talk to a health worker at your
local clinic
- Talk to a counselor from your
local NGO or welfare office
- Phone the national toll-free Stop
Women Abuse hotline – 0800150150
How
can the police help me with a problem of domestic violence?
If
you report a case of domestic violence to the police:
·
They will tell you about your rights
and how to get a protection order
·
They can send a police officer to your
home to protect you from further abuse. They can also take away the abuser’s
weapons if he is threatening you.
·
They can help you find a shelter and a
counseling service.
·
They can also help you get medical
care.
·
They must arrest the abuser if he does
not obey the protection order.
If a police
officer does not help you, you can report him or her to the Station
Commissioner. You can also contact your local police Area Commissioner, or the
offices of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD).
|
ICD HEAD
OFFICE: Maphetang Foolo
|
012 320-0434
|
|
GAUTENG
|
011 838
2875/6
|
|
MPUMALANGA
|
013 752 4316
|
|
NORTHERN PROVINCE
|
015 295
5561/5
|
|
NORTH WEST
PROVINCE
|
018 381 1490
|
|
FREE STATE
|
051 522 9856
|
|
KWAZULU/
NATAL
|
031 305 8370
|
|
EASTERN CAPE
|
043 642 1667
|
|
NORTHERN
CAPE
|
053 831 7390
|
|
WESTERN CAPE
|
021 426 0700
|
