Violence against women mural unveiled in Khayelitsha

The mural was unveiled in Makhulu Crescent, on Friday, after about 70 community members and organisations marched from the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park.

Titled “Domestic violence and rape are not just family problems…in the fight against violence against women it is everyone’s responsibility”, Claudia Lopes from the Heinrich Böll Foundation who developed the mural together with the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, said the mural was part of a project to promote more just outcomes for survivors of rape and domestic violence.

“In 2008 research conducted by the City of Cape Town rated Khayelitsha as having the fourth highest number of reported cases of rape in Cape Town. The latest police crime statistics reveal that Khayelitsha remains one of the highest contributing areas to violence against women and children. While the current statistics indicate a minor decrease (by 1.2 %) in sexual crimes in comparison to the previous year, increases in other types of crime (under which domestic violence may be classified under) are significant: attempted murder rose by 43.9 %; common assault by 32.2 %; murder by 28.8 % and assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm by 2.6 %,” explained Lopes.

One of the facilitators, Funeka Soldaat from Free Gender, said the event was great but they didn’t get the turn out they expected.

“I think people of the area were not aware of the march because only a few of them came out to join us. We sent out invitations, as well as to ward councillors and sub-councils but still the number was low. In terms of the mural, there was a workshop prior to the unveiling, where participants were asked what they would like to see on the mural.”

In one part the mural written in bold black letters are the words: “Thina sizimisele ukulwa ubudlobongela obujongiswe komama” (We are ready to fight violence against women). This sentence is followed by a number of signatures by community members and organisations who participated in the march. Right next to this are different statistics about the violence against women that happen everyday in the country.