Gender violence NGO, Philisa Abafazi, together with community safety NGO, Action Society, hosted Janelle Laattoe, a 27 year old woman from Mitchells Plain, to share her story as a victim of gender-based violence. Janelle, became a victim of sexual violence and assault at the hands of a former partner.

Lattoee shared how the police officer at the station where she reported the crime discouraged her from laying a criminal charge against her abuser. She read an open letter to South African police minister Bheki Cele and to President Cyril Ramaphosa, highlighting how South Africa’s criminal justice system has failed her and other victims.

Lucinda Evans, the director of the NGO Philisa Abafazi, which assists victims of gender based violence, said “I believe that the time for women in this country has come where we hit the pockets of the South African Police Services.” Evans believes that Janelle should hire an attorney and pursue the government departments for failing her as a victim.

The event was held as part of Women’s Month in South Africa. Women’s Day is a public holiday in South Africa which commemorates the march by women to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to oppose the atrocities of Apartheid.