One Billion Rising Eswatini, SWAGAA Urge Action Against GBV Following Viral Abuse Case

ONE Billion Rising Eswatini and Africa Coordinator, Colani Hlatjwako, says it is high time that the nation stands up against gender-based violence (GBV).

She said the reaction from social media users on this case should not end on social media platforms, but they should take meaningful action against GBV.

Hlatjwako stated that although human rights defenders and civil society organisations could make noise against GBV issues, the effect could not compare to when ordinary citizens did something about it and were steadfast in their call for an end to abuse.

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Also, she applauded the woman in this particular case for her bravery in sharing her experience with the public, citing that there were a lot of similar cases of abuse, though some of the abused people often kept to themselves to a point where they died in silence.

“By her bravery of sharing her experience, it challenges us members of the public to act on the matter. One Billion Rising Eswatini will support her if she so wishes. Our main goal is for her to get counselling,” said Hlatjwako.

Likewise, Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Executive Director, Nonhlanhla Dlamini, said the organisation was open to assisting the woman and that it could also aid her in opening a case against her perpetrator.

She was quick to mention that this would be done after consulting with the woman so that she could give guidance on how she wished to be assisted.

Dlamini said now that the abuse the woman had suffered had been posted in a public domain, it was everyone’s responsibility to report the matter to the police, as per the provision of Section 70 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act.

However, Chief PICO Phindile Vilakati noted that people should report an incident of abuse that they had witnessed rather than heard about.

“One cannot report a case of abuse based on a social media post because hearsay is not admissible in court. The one reporting should have witnessed the abuse because they could be turned witnesses in court,” said Vilakati.

She added that since the police had already contacted the woman, it was a good start towards officially opening a case.

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