SOUTH AFRICA - WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Domestic Violence is regarded as a serious social evil and South Africa is one of the countries with high incidences of domestic violence.  The Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998) was enacted with the  main purpose to afford the victims of domestic violence maximum protection from domestic abuse that the law can provide.The Act further introduced measures which seek  to ensure that relevant organs of state give full effect to the provisions of this Act, and thereby to convey a message that the  State is committed to the  elimination of domestic violence.

In general, domestic violence may:

• Be an on-going pattern of coercive control

• Increase in severity  over time

• Be complicated due  to  the  fact  that a victim and  perpetrator often share financial, social and familial tie

Forms of abuse in terms of the  Domestic Violence Act

Physical Abuse  may include:

•     Shoving, slapping, punching, kicking, throttling, biting

•     Assault  with  objects, guns,  knives  or  any  other dangerous weapon

Sexual Abuse  may include:

 

•     Rape, attempted rape,  indecent assault

•     On-going verbal  abuse with  sexual  slurs such  as bitch,  whore,

Emotional, Verbal and Psychological Abuse may include:
 

•     Constant insults, ridicule or name calling

•       Repeated  threats of  violence  or  death to  cause emotional pain

 

Economic Abuse may include:

 

•     Selling of shared property e.g. livestock, matrimonial

•     Accessing  a  joint  bank  account for  personal use without the consent of the victim

Intimidation could be:

•     Sending  written or verbal death threats to a victim

•     Sending  beheaded dolls, small coffins, dead flowers or dead pets to a victim

Harassment may include:

•      Repeatedly watching a victim  outside or  near  his/ her  house, workplace, school  or business premises or any place where she happens to be

•       Repeatedly phoning a victim  or  causing  any  other person to  phone his/her whether or not  the  caller speaks to a complainant

 

Stalking, means, for example:

 

•       Constantly  approaching  a  victim   and   asking   or demanding to talk to a victim against his/her will

 Damage to Property may include:

•     Breaking a window to gain entry into a victim’s house

•     Cutting, breaking or damaging in any other manner shared furniture

Unauthorised Entry Into the Victims Residence may include:may include:

•     Using  a  duplicate  key  to   gain   access   may   also constitute domestic violence

TAKE NOTE - Both men and women can be guilty of, and be victims of domestic violence.