Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) activist and founder of the Lydia Sono Foundation, Lydia Sono, says she is concerned about the increase in GBVF cases in Nkomazi.

This was in light of several cases that had recently been reported to the Tonga police station.

With the 16-day activism campaigns launching in a few weeks, Sono says the number of women reporting cases of GBVF is alarming. “I have worked with a number of women and children through the foundation and what is happening lately in Nkomazi is very worrying. We help victims navigate the healing journey and also support them during court appearances. I was very shocked when I was called to a case in KaMhlushwa where a woman was attacked in the comfort of her home in the presence of her two children. She was badly hit on the head with a garden hoe and is currently fighting for her life in hospital,” said Sono.

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Sono also referred to several other cases currently before the Tonga Magistrates Court.

“We also recently heard about an incident where a man allegedly raped three of his own children. As if that wasn’t enough to raise alarm bells, another case has emerged where a man also raped his own six-year-old child. What is even sadder about these incidents is that some of the victims put up with it to the point of getting pregnant and giving birth to the children by their own fathers,” she added.

Sono also called on family members to stop treating criminal behavior as private family matters. “Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing these cases withdrawn just because people insist they should be discussed within families. I have also dealt with matters that we fully support and have been told that we should back off as the family has decided to deal with it internally. When it comes to murder, nothing should be treated as a family matter. These criminals should be in prison where they belong, not among families.”

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The Lydia Sono Foundation will commit to creating more awareness during the 16 days of activism. “We are calling on any department or company that wants to join us on this journey. We are ready to visit any school or organization to talk about this pandemic. Our main constraint at the moment is budget and we are appealing to anyone who can help us come. We’re fighting the good fight and it’s best to fight it together as a community.”