If Makhetha is unable to change the attitudes of women, she at least hopes to inform them of their rights to complain about being abused. Last December, the South African government passed the Domestic Violence Act. The country's first legislation of its kind, the act makes spousal abuse illegal.

Under the act, abused persons can lay a charge of assault against the accuser and obtain an interdict, a Magistrate Court order that prohibits the abuser from assaulting or threatening the victim and from coming to her home or workplace. If the abuser violates the interdict, the abused party is supposed to be able to contact the police and have the abuser arrested. However, the police do not always cooperate. Makhetha believes implementing mandatory gender sensitivity training in courts and on police forces will help.

"There are magistrates that believe that if a women is wearing a short skirt she is asking for rape," said Makhetha.

Gerntholtz agrees.

"We've had complaints from women in rural areas where the police have said 'but you're not bleeding, come back when he really assaults you."

Government officials admit that there is a disconnect between the law and its enforcement.

"The laws are partially effective in the sense that not all women are aware of this legislation, of this mechanism to support and assist them in this crisis situation - especially in the rural areas," said Dr. Eddie Harvey of the Department of Welfare. "At the national level we only have policy making. NGO's and provincial governments take care of it."

For Segona, who finally fled her husband's abuse in April of 1996, the government's gender laws came too late. She decided to leave Makotoko Makotoko when he falsely accused her of sleeping around and beat her - bruising her body and maiming her foot. When she complained to police, she got no response. But the social workers at POWA believed her story and gave her refuge.

Today Balesang ( which means 'leave them alone') Segona's life has changed.

<--Back

Next-->