04 Oct 2020

Gender Based Violence (GBV) has existed for the longest time and countless women, children and men have been subjected to such an immoral treatment.

In a recent interview, former member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi for Tswapong region, Kgosi Galeakanye Modise said  regardless of who the perpetrator was or the form of violation, gender based violence was indecent.

Kgosi Modise of Sefhare noted that a woman was raped, assaulted and girls’ defiled every three days in the region.

“It has never been in God’s agenda that such an immoral practice should exist among us. It is even more frustrating that some lost their lives just because they wanted to end relationships. The number of women who lost their lives may seem small, but losing a life is disheartening,” stated Kgosi Modise.

His hope is that with the public education aimed at teaching communities about GBV, change can be realised.

This, he said, was based on the realisation that some men failed to accept and respect their partners’ decision, when they wanted out of a relationship.

The decision, he noted  often prompted jealousy and anger on the other partner.

Kgosi Modise observed that victims were raped by those who should otherwise be protecting them such as friends, partners, associates and relatives.

“Worst case is when a man rapes a child as young as five months old,” he said.

Kgosi said winning the fight against GBV required understanding and having society actively engaging in war against GBV.

He mentioned such challenges as teenage pregnancy, delinquency, substance and drug abuse as factors contributing to GBV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs).

“In order for our country to achieve prosperity and development, all must be at the forefront of the fight against GBV and the spread of STIs including HIV/AIDS,” he noted.

Being silent or withdrawing GBV cases, Kgosi Modise noticed, denied perpetrators a chance to receive help on time.

He believes harsher punishment on perpetrators is the remedy.

A resident, Mr John Kadimo said the best medicine to arrest the situation was to wallop the culprits on their back.

He recalled that in the past, men who assaulted their wives were given four strokes on the back, before trial. ENDS