Cape Town - A Pollsmoor inmate convicted of culpable homicide says being jailed was the best thing that has ever happened to him.
Dillon Matinise, 20, from Valhalla Park, near Bishop Lavis, was among inmates – the majority juveniles – who attended the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Pollsmoor Prison on Tuesday.
“Any abuse against women and children is a bad thing. I would like to ask men out there not to do it. Some of them have reasons, but any form of abuse is not the only way to do things,” Matinise said.
He said 16 Days of Activism should be something “done daily, not only at this time of the year”.
Matinise revealed he was due to be released on parole on Thursday. He killed a man who was embroiled in an argument with his friend. Matinise was 18 years old when he committed the crime he now regrets. He said while out on parole, he was going to attend a college.
Another prisoner, Monique de Lange, 38, from Athlone, who is serving three years for fraud, said women must not stay in abusive relationships.
“There are other avenues which abused women can pursue. This campaign is very good in creating awareness,” De Lange said.
Violence against women and children has continued despite South Africa having the right policies and legal framework to prevent it, President Jacob Zuma said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
“This country has the right policies and legal framework to protect women and children,” he said at the official launch of the campaign
“Despite this, the scourge of violence against women and children continues.”
Zuma said the responsibility lay with citizens to implement the constitution and laws.
”This year the campaign would reach out to men and boys…
We encourage greater participation, we urge young men and boys to become activists against gender-based violence,” Zuma said.
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said in launching the campaign: “To the many women who are experiencing abuse, my call is for them to be brave, empower themselves, take a stand and use the available channels through the law to end the cycle of abuse.”
The Western Cape Religious Forum urged faith leaders to equip themselves and use the faith-based resources offered in collaboration with other civil society organisations to bring about change.
Cape Times