'Don't be like me,' ex-convict tells CPF members during campaign

Date: 14 December 2023 By: Kaizer Nengovhela

The provincial community policing forum (CPF) hosted an awareness campaign to warn against the abuse of women and children at the Ha-Ravele Community Hall on Wednesday, 6 December. Representatives of all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, the departments of Social Development, Justice, Transport and Community Safety, Correctional Services, the local pastors’ forum, principals from local schools, and community members attended the initiative.

Vhembe SAPS Commissioner Maj-Gen Eddie van der Walt expressed his gratitude to the CPF for this initiative. He assured everyone present that the mission of the Limpopo Police was to serve and protect the people, and that they were working hand in hand with the CPF to curb crime in all forms. Van der Walt further encouraged community members to report any dissatisfaction they might have with their local police services to either him directly or to the station commanders in charge at their respective police stations.

During the event, ex-convict Bethuel Mandiwana, who is currently on parole, advised his fellow men not to get involved with drugs and alcohol in the first place. “Don’t be like me. In 1998, I raped a 14-year-old girl while I was drunk. I was arrested and sentenced to prison for life. I spent 22 years behind bars for my crime. A prison is not a good place. You will come back a nobody,” he warned.

Advocate Enos Muthobi, the chairperson of the Vhembe CPF, said the acknowledgement of male abuse was a critical step towards dismantling preconceived notions. “It is not only women and children who suffer from gender-based violence and abuse. Men are often victims of these crimes too but don’t know how to approach the police.”

Muthobi said they had witnessed many cases where children were being abused by their fathers or family members, but the mothers did not want to report this because they were afraid of destroying their marriages. “We want to encourage men and women alike to speak out against abuse, despite how tough the situation might be. Only from there can we start to investigate the root cause of abuse,” he said.

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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