I visited Diepsloot north of Johannesburg last week and met individuals from non-profit organisation Lawyers Against Abuse (LvA).
The NGO does superb work and they assist hundreds of abused women annually. They focus on gender-based violence and their legal and counseling services are all provided free of charge.
Scores of women are raped and beaten in Diepsloot every month. Yet, a proper SAPS station was only opened last year.
I was shocked to hear from Lawyers Against Abuse that there is no post-rape medical care in Diepsloot. Victims have to travel to Roodepoort, many kilometers away.
This is a disgrace! Why do victims have to suffer further trauma?
Minutes after I tweeted this, 1st For First Women, an insurance company, responded and offered to buy the rape kits. I even had a chat with the company’s group boss, Tom Creamer, who said they are willing to assist in whatever way possible.
1st for Women later engaged directly with Lawyers against Abuse Executive Director, Lindsay Henson, and offered their full support in LvA’s advocacy efforts in trying to obtain post-rape medical care in Diepsloot, including the necessary medical facility and personnel trained to collect the forensic evidence.
Well done Tom and 1st For Women. It is companies like yours who make a difference. Thank you for leading the way.
Corporate South Africa has a pivotal role to play, especially when government fails us.
If you want to link to LvA website: www.lva.org.za
*Yusuf Abramjee is an anti-crime activist and social activist.
Twitter: @abramjee