National Commissioner, Arthur Fraser (second from left) and COC, Mandla Mkabela (third from right) in the company of Gauteng RC, Thakane Molatedi (left), KwaZulu-Natal acting RC, James Smalberger (second from right), and acting CDC Incarceration and Corrections, Lucky Mthethwa (right) as they say ‘NO’ to domestic violence and the killing of women and children
Correctional Centres and administrative offices of the Department of Correctional Services responded overwhelmingly to the clarion call by the National Commissioner, Mr Arthur Fraser, to condemn and put a stop to domestic violence and the killing of women and children. The directive by the Commissioner Fraser called on all DCS officials to take part in a candle-light observance, as a symbolic gesture and pledge by both men and women in brown to fight the scourge of gender-based violence. In Head Office, DC Human Resource Management, Kenneth Mthombeni bemoaned the erosion of the moral compass and the increasing number of femicide cases in DCS and society at large. He said statistics show a grim picture of South Africa becoming increasingly unsafe for women and children to live in.The Director Gender and Employment Equity, Ayanda Bonani said that 41% of rapes in South Africa are committed against vulnerable children. Ms Koko Maphoto, who is a survivor of domestic violence, beseeched fellow women to break the silence against gender-based violence, and support one another.
Whilst attending the Heads of Centres and Area Commissioners’ work session in Durban, the executive leadership of the Department, led by National Commissioner Arthur Fraser and Chief Operations Commissioner Mandla Mkabela also held a candle-light service. Speaking on behalf of the leadership, Gauteng Regional Commissioner Thakane Molatedi said, “As a leadership of the Department, we are aware that we have lost our own through this violent behaviour. I encourage us as colleagues to learn to be each other’s keepers.”
Regional Commissioner for Free State and Northern Cape, Subashini Moodley weighed in by encouraging officials to speak out against domestic violence. “Domestic violence is the most appalling violation, yet it remains one of the most concealed and unrecognised pandemics of all times, because we often resort to silence and we go on with our lives,” she said.
Deputy Regional Commissioner for Eastern Cape region, Noziphiwo Dumbela said the Department is still mourning following the murder of Ms Fundiswa Magaiana on 15 February 2020. The deceased, who was the acting Area Commissioner of Mthatha Management Area, was allegedly killed by her spouse.
Correctional centres and administrative offices held separate candle-light ceremonies at 12h00 under the theme: “A Candle-Light Observance – DCS United Against Gender-Based Violence and the Killing of Women and Children”.