#TebogoBrown | GBV activists explore complexities victims face when seeking help

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Monitor South Africa has urged survivors of GBV to seek assistance from organisations that deal with such issues like the Department of Social Development and shelters if they aren’t getting help from the police.

The organisation says far too often victims of abuse under report such incidents due to the police talking them out of opening cases.

Tebogo Brown’s experience is a case in point.

The mother of two who had taken to social media to share about the abuse she’s endured at the hands of her former husband and the lack of assistance she’s experienced with the police has the nation talking about the complexities in such cases.

Following the police’s assertions that Brown had withdrew two of her cases against her abuser, she has sought to set the record straight.

According to Brown, the cases against her estranged partner were dropped after the police said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prosecute him.

She says they then offered to mediate between them, a move she describes as signing her death certificate.

My name is Tebogo Brown,married to Tshepo Moshiga who tried to kill me and the kids…
I’m posting this because this man is going to kill me and even after reporting him to the police,I was told they can only warn him… pic.twitter.com/a67bewKHVA

— Tebogo Brown (@TebogoBrown_) August 26, 2024

I was admitted at gariep @mediclinic in Kimberly, I called his unit manger Sister Lida (High care unit manager)
She said she doesn’t entertain nonsense because Tshepo is good at what he does….
I went to the hospital more than 16 times in Jan-May 2024. https://t.co/Ta7t4m8iIy

— Tebogo Brown (@TebogoBrown_) August 27, 2024

GBV Monitor South Africa founder, Omogolo Taunyane-Mnguni, says Brown’s story mirrors that of many other GBV victims, which leads to survivors not to report such cases to the police.

According to research by Safer Spaces, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviours, is the most common form of GBV in the country.

It says although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain for many reasons, including the fact that most incidents of GBV are not reported, more than half of all the women murdered (56%) in 2009 were killed by an intimate male partner.

GBV Monitor South Africa says considering the prevalence of the scourge, women need to take advantage of the shelters and organisations like POWA, which empower abuse survivors as they go through the journey of healing.

The Tears Foundation has also weighed in.

The organisation says some people usually regard withdrawn GBV cases as a sign that the initial complaint was in quest of petty revenge, without understanding how complex GBV actually is.

Tears Foundation’s Kavya Swaminathan cites fear and distrust in the police as some of the reasons why survivors often drop cases against their abusers.

Swaminathan says there’s a need for the public to be educated about their rights when reporting such sensitive cases.

As South Africans continue to call for justice, the police have assured Brown that they will get to the bottom of the matter.

Police are here to assist you. The allegations you are making are very serious. We are investigating& looking into these together with the commander of the I/O. We are also engaging the Department of Social Development on how you were booked out of their centre. Will call you

— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) August 27, 2024

I didn’t book myself out,Your investigation officer told me that Tshepo wants to meet me and I knew that he just signed my death certificate..

I asked him when is the court case and he said he’s on leave.
TSHEPO has been free since then,I have a protection order against him. https://t.co/TrjozIpI6G

— Tebogo Brown (@TebogoBrown_) August 27, 2024

Tebogo Brown is the “perfect victim”, she’s reported everything, brought evidence, spoke out consistently, LEFT!!!! But she’s still not getting justice because there’s no such thing as a perfect victim, people only care when the woman is in a body bag then say “let’s do better”

— Yaya’s Twin 💞🧸 (@leelonosnitch) August 27, 2024

Tebogo Brown’s story is so heartbreaking, I remember reading her story on Facebook and was shocked to learn she still hasn’t been assisted. yho 💔

— Rose in the dark (@ipenchisi) August 27, 2024