A Musina mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she was trapped in a violent family home with her four children after being unable to find a shelter to move into. She claims her younger brother assaulted girlfriends he brought home and sometimes used weapons, leaving her and her children in a state of fear. The mother says she eventually moved her children out of the extended family home after finding employment.
The mother's experience of violence is not unique. According to research cited by UNICEF, one in four South African children between five and sixteen years old has experienced family violence. A long-running study following children in Johannesburg and Soweto found even higher levels of exposure, with more than half of the children in the study having been exposed to violence in their homes during childhood.
The effects of violence on children can be long-lasting, says Thandeka Nhlapo, director of the Mpumalanga Mental Health Society. She notes that repeated exposure to violence can affect children's sense of safety and their understanding of relationships, trust, and boundaries. Nhlapo adds that domestic violence is not limited to violence between intimate partners, but also includes abuse between family members related by blood.
The mother says she contacted the Department of Social Development in Musina to request psychosocial support for her children, but is still waiting for feedback. Limpopo's provincial government acknowledges shortages of social workers, psychologists, and other staff for services for survivors of gender-based violence. The government funds over 80 victim empowerment programs through non-governmental organizations to bridge this gap.
The mother says she is only now able to start rebuilding her life after moving out of the violent home. She claims she is getting her power back and learning to stand up for herself. Nhlapo says counseling and social support can help children and survivors process violence and develop healthier ways of coping.
The Mpumalanga Mental Health Society provides therapeutic and psychosocial support through offices across Mpumalanga. The organization has offices in various locations, including Bushbuckridge, Delmas, Lydenburg, Middelburg, Nelspruit, Piet Retief, Secunda, Siyabuswa, and Standerton. The society's provincial office can be reached at 081 731 1280 or [email protected].
The mother's story highlights the challenges faced by survivors of family violence in accessing support services. Her experience underscores the need for increased resources and support for survivors of gender-based violence in Limpopo. The Department of Social Development's response to the mother's request for help remains uncertain.
Key points
- A Limpopo mother is struggling to access psychosocial support for her children after escaping a violent family home.
- The effects of violence on children can be long-lasting and affect their sense of safety and understanding of relationships.
- South Africa's Department of Social Development faces challenges in providing support services to survivors of gender-based violence due to staff shortages.
