Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone of us, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused or denied. Excusing such behaviour does not only perpetuate it, but it also gives someone power to dominate and have total control over you. It compromises your human dignity. Gone are those days where we justified abuse for love, there have been countless cases where women has lost their lives through enduring such. If anyone loves they ought to respect you enough not to hurt you but instead they should protect you.
Noticing and acknowledging the signs of an abusive relationship are the first step to ending this scourge. There are different kinds of abuse that we are prone to, and others are psychological rather than physically. Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998
Domestic violence is regulated by the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998. The Act was introduced in 1998 with the purpose of affording women protection from domestic violence by creating obligations on law enforcement bodies, such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), to protect victims as far as possible. The Act attempts to provide victims of domestic violence with an accessible legal instrument with which to prevent further abuses taking place within their domestic relationships. The Act recognizes that domestic violence is a serious crime against our society, and extends the definition of domestic violence to include not only married women and their children, but also unmarried women who are involved in relationships or living with their partners, people in same-sex relationships, mothers and their sons, and other people who share a living space.
Domestic violence can be in any form as tabulated:
- If you notice yourself in any of the above mentioned descriptions of abuse, reach out now. There is help available. It is your responsibility to seek help if you feel any of the above form of abuse is being employed to you. The law has measures in place to protect us. A protection order can be applied for and obtained at the nearest court; failure for the abuser to abide by it, a warrant of arrest can be issued.
- No one should live in fear of the person they love. Let us break the silence and aspire to live a healthy, happy and a fulfilling life. Don’t be scared of your own independence, if anyone is in your life, they should be because they are worthy of you. Value yourself and your life.
