Strandfontein video highlights urgent call for action against gender-based violence
A video depicting a woman being assaulted has sparked outrage.
Image: Pixabay
The Strandfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) has called on members of the public to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying individuals involved in a gender-based violence (GBV) incident captured in a widely circulated video.
The 16-second clip, reportedly recorded in the Wavecrest area of Strandfontein, shows a man aggressively confronting a woman holding a baby.
In the footage, the man is seen shouting vulgar language at the woman before another individual, dressed in black, attempts to intervene and de-escalate the situation. A second woman then steps in, telling the man not to speak to the mother in that manner, before he allegedly pushes her to the ground.
The video ends with the man being pushed away by the woman holding the baby and the lady in black away.
Sandy Schuter, chairperson of the Strandfontein community police forum.
Image: Supplied
Strandfontein CPF chairperson, Sandy Schuter, said she became aware of the video after it was shared on a community group chat.
“As an activist, I'm a human rights defender, I'm a child rights defender. I'm a GBV activist. And it doesn't matter who, what, where, now. I'm going to take up your thing.”
Schuter stressed that her priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the woman and the child involved.
“It is important for me to know that this woman is informed of her rights. It is important for me to educate her that there is a Domestic Violence Act. It is important for me to speak to the other ladies that were also there. And it is also important for me to know that this child is safe.”
She added that incidents like this raise broader concerns about what may be happening behind closed doors.
“I need to inform them of what is transpiring within our communities, within our country with regards to GBV. This type of behaviour that spiraled into the streets makes me wonder what is happening behind closed doors. But I don't want to push him down. I want to educate him and I want to teach him what this type of behaviour does.”
While acknowledging public outrage over the video, Schuter emphasised a balanced approach focused on intervention and accountability.
“I know everybody's upset and angry. I want to speak to him. If he has a problem, we are going to help him. But this behavior is not going to continue, not in my community, because the end of domestic violence stops by me. It stops by you. It's everybody's responsibility.”
She also highlighted the importance of collective action, including the involvement of law enforcement.
“To defend the child and protect the child, it's everybody's responsibility. And that is why I'm making it my business, not to just read a message and see a video on a group chat. I need to go and reach out to that specific group of people.
Schuter further warned about the long-term impact of exposing children to violence.
"With behaviour displayed like this in front of the child all the time, it's going to seem normal. This is what creates child or crash bullies, school bullies and later on perpetrators. Or they become victims of violence because this is normal.
The CPF has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist authorities as efforts continue to identify those involved and ensure the safety of the individuals affected.