Rape a major problem in Alex
ALEXANDRA - Man must learn to stop violating women’s rights by resisting separation from their spouses and girl friends when they choose to end a relationship for irreconcilable or other personal reasons.
Men must learn to stop violating women’s rights through jealousy and anger.
This was said by the acting Alex Police Station commander Colonel Nhluvuko Zondi when outlining the state of crime in the township during the international campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Alex is notorious for crime and Zondi attributed this scourge to overcrowding, unemployment and the collapse of family and community values.
Zondi said incidents of rape in the township were a major concern. “It violates the rights of women, girls and even young boys. I believe many cases go unreported because they [rapes] are committed within the family and reporting would bring shame and also fear of losing financial and other support,” she said.
Zondi added that rape also contributed to risks of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted incestuous pregnancies. It was also compounded by working parents leaving their children at the mercy of unknown neighbours.
The illegal sale and abuse of alcohol were other challenges she linked to rape. “Residents consume alcohol heavily from Thursdays to Sundays and any day on month-end after pay. Sadly, this also involves the youth and sometimes children. Taverns are major culprits which violate the operating hours of 10am to 2am,” she said.
“The challenge is that every other house on the same street is a tavern, with others hidden from scrutiny as they are also residential places which enable them to sell throughout the day and night.”
Zondi added that 10 taverns were closed in the past couple of months for violating trading hours.
Contact crime was another concern also linked with alcohol abuse and rape. These incidents occur when female tavern patrons are beaten on the way home at night or were victimised by people they befriended when drinking. “Sometimes the assaults are between lovers and result in severe injuries and deaths,” she said.
