Surviving gender-based violence Survivor 11's story | Western Cape Government

Surviving gender-based violence Survivor 11's story

The Survivor is a 45 year old female who has been a victim of verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation and stalking for a long period of time in her marriage. Since she applied for a divorce and her husband moved out of the house, the situation became far more intense, threatening and controlling. Initially the client applied for a Protection Order in 2020 but nothing was reverted back to her on the status of the application. 

The husband of the client would follow her everywhere she went, even when she was making use of an Uber. He would call her up to 50 times per day although she blocked his calls. He pitched up at her workplace and placed her in an uncomfortable position by exposing their personal problems to her fellow colleagues.

In 2021 she entered the offices of Community Cohesion in a devastated emotional condition after the Uber had to drive past the office twice, due to her husband following the Uber. Once she was able to safely enter the offices and was in the counselling room with the social worker, she heard her husband's voice at the security gate of the organisation. He demanded to see her and wanted confirmation that she was indeed in the office, which was not revealed to him as it is against the professional conduct.

The husband sat in his vehicle, which was parked in front of the organisation, and did not want to leave. She was so anxious she was walking up and down in the office, the fear was visible on her face whilst the social worker was liaising with the SAPS to assist. The social worker contacted SAPS to assist in getting the husband to leave the area as the client and the social worker needed to go to the court to obtain an Interim Protection Order (IPO) and follow-up on the existing application that had not been dealt with. SAPS requested the husband to leave the premises and blocked his vehicle, whilst another SAPS vehicle was escorting the social worker and the client from the office to ensure the husband did not follow them to court.

The client was emotionally confused and extremely distressed and the social worker assisted her in ensuring detailed information is filled in on the Protection Order to ensure the magistrate issued an IPO, due to the seriousness of the matter, especially on the harassment part. The IPO was endorsed by the magistrate on the same day after discussion and explanations to the magistrate on the seriousness of the matter.

The client is thankful and appreciated the services received from the social worker and social auxiliary worker from Community Cohesion. She indicated that if she did not reach out to Community Cohesion she is not sure how things could have been today as she is feeling good and emotionally she has strengthened and gained resilience now having received professional assistance. During every follow-up with the client she indicated her appreciation towards the Community Cohesion team.

“ I feel like I am in a good position, I am very positive, I also stood up to him and I took my power back and yeah I am good. I am in a much better stage. If someone would have asked me this question a few months ago, I would not have been able to answer them and I would have been bolled up. Thanks again to Community Cohesion for assisting me.”

The content on this page was last updated on 16 July 2021