Yires urged to not ignore red flags in relationships

June 20, 2024 40

The Pink Ladies organisation, which caters for abused and missing children as well as their loved ones, has urged Yires to always be cautious of early red flags in their relationships.

The call follows the brutal murder of a 3-year-old toddler, Anganam Magxwalisa by his stepfather, Siyanda Magagu.

Magagu had first kidnaped the little boy and later hanged him on a tree on Father’s Day.

He had allegedly had a fight with the 3-year-old’s mother at the time of the murder.

The tragedy has raised concern on social media, with some questioning what could have led the man who had been a father figure to Anganam to carry out such a violent action.

The 35-year-old made his first appearance in court on Tuesday and is expected back in the Stutterheim Magistrate’s Court today for a formal bail application.

He is facing charges of kidnapping and murder.

The Pink Ladies director, Jacqui Thomas, says nothing can ever justify such a crime.

She is urging Yires to always be cautious of partners who exhibit signs of possessiveness and makes them feel unsafe.

‘Financial abuse prevalent’

The NPO which supports women affected by Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Tears Foundation, says financial abuse is very prevalent in the rural areas.

Speaking to YNews, the foundation’s Intervention Supervisor, Kavya Swaminathan, says cites the expectation of women to stay at home to raise the kids while their man earns money to sustain the family as one of the factors that create a controlling and dangerous dynamic in relationship.

Swaminathan says the woman ends up being overly dependent on the breadwinner, who sometimes overexert their power, often leading to physical abuse on them or the children.

She adds that leaving in these types of relationships is not easy and sometimes women stay out of fear of what could happen should they leave.

In such situations, she says, children end up being used as chess pieces.