'Domestic violence affects all'
2005-11-29 16:50
Johannesburg - Domestic violence was not a private matter as it affected a person's ability to take part in a community's development, said deputy safety and security minister Susan Shabangu on Tuesday.
Shagangu's comments were contained in a statement reporting at least 1 000 arrests in "Operation Basadi" in the Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape in the past four days, mostly for crimes against women.
Shabangu was with police in the Kimberley leg of the operation, accompanied by the first woman police provincial commissioner, Miriam Zukiswa Mbombo.
"As neighbours, relatives, government services within communities, we all have a role to play in addressing issues that can break cycles or repeated victimisation or offending and leading to generational cycles of violence," said Shabangu.
Captain Percy Morokane said that while most of the suspects were arrested for charges relating to violence against women and children, police did not turn a blind eye to other outstanding criminal cases.
Basadi is a Tswana and Sotho word for women.
The operations come during the 16 days of activism against gender violence campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10.
- SAPA