Page 75 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

BreAKInG THe CHAInS OF ABuSe
throUGh oUr CAre
Phumla Gojela. CARE Veggie garden. Funeka Gojela of Care Alicedale working in the sewing project.
PHUMLA GOjELA IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF CARE ALICEDALE. SHE WRITES ABOUT HOW THE ORGANISATION IS HELPING TO EMPOWER VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL TO STAMP OUT THE SCOURGE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
CAre Alicedale was established on the 20th October 1998 and registered on the 27th September 2001 as a non-profit organisation. The Alicedale community approached me at a difficult time when 80% of people were retrenched by the former South African railways in 1995, when it became Spoornet under Transnet. The community started to experience huge challenges like poverty, school dropouts, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Men in Alicedale still believe that the only way to discipline their wives and children is through corporal punishment. Women are forced to obey men even if men are doing something bad to them. Women are not allowed to be vocal in their homes when men are talking. If they do so, the man will beat the woman for being disrespectful. Another frustrating and painful part is when children are beaten heavily by men when trying to reach their mothers. As there is a high rate of unemployment, women are forced to look for small and quick jobs for the benefit of their partners. When they get paid, men demand money for their own needs like tobacco and alcohol. They also demand to be served food by their wives.
Sex is demanded by men from women even if they are sick. If the woman complains about feeling ill, the man beats her up, accusing her of cheating. The man does not care even if the woman is hurt and bleeding. Women blame themselves for being irresponsible and not performing the responsibilities expected of wives. They label themselves failures and bad women. They are not aware of their rights and not confident to claim them. We have come across many obstacles through our work with abused women. When a high-profile politician commits a crime against a woman, the male police officer will advise that the case should be negotiated by the families. elderly women staying alone
phuMlA GoJelA
RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years
73
Gender