Hope for rape victims in Lephalale

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is already in full swing and in Lephalale and Mokopane police officers are campaigning for a safer community for women and children. There is perhaps no one more involved in the struggle against abuse of the fairer sex than social worker, Adolphinah Mokgonami from the Victim empowerment Centre in Lephalale.
Mokgonami told Northern News this week that the statistics are staggering. “Over the past few months, we have had up to 17 rape cases in one week, most of them Zimbabwean women who are vulnerable due to their dire economic situations.”
The centre provides a place for victims of rape to wash, sleep and be counselled. “We often house women with their children if there is abuse in the house. The sad reality is that these women and sometimes their children are raped by the bread winner. They feel that they have no other choice but to go back to the abuser.”
Mokgonami joined the Lephalale police in campaigning against this kind of abuse at the sports ground in Marapong over the weekend. She is a volunteer and is available 24/7 to council rape victims.
“It is sometimes difficult because I am only one person, sometimes I sleep at the centre because my home is in Marapong,” she added.
On the question of how the community can get involved she says: “By volunteering at the centre or by donating clothes, underwear, diapers, sanitary pads, soap, face cloths, towels and blankets. “We also have to provide food for the victims which I often buy out of my own pocket.”
To get involved or donate
contact Adolphinah Makgonami on 0723289992 or Denise Fourie on 079 055 0734.