Domestic Violence During Covid-19 Pandemic
Police Minister Bheki Cele says police have received more than 87 000 gender-based violence complaints during the first week of the 21-day national lockdown.
Courts are open during National Lockdown to deal with matters of domestic violence and so are we.
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 recognises 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.
Feel free to be in touch and we can happily consult telephonically in helping keep you safe during this already scary time.
