Stop abuse. Show love! ISSUE 34 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Page 2 SAFETY FIRST… More than 600 drivers were recently tested for alcohol consumption. Amandelbult Complex’s protection services team was pleased to note that zero tolerance for drinking and driving has taken hold. All of the drivers tested negative! Learners urged to soar Page 4 Cooking up a secure future Page 6 Get some great safety tips on page 3. Safety 2 OPINION ISSUE 34 AMANDELBULT TIMES How would you advise a victim of abuse? Dialogue to find ways to Some people are afraid to come out in the open and admit that Your reaction in a crisis situation is eliminate the scourge of they are either abusive or are important – fight or flight. You must be safe gender-based violence is victims of abuse. Awareness and protect your children at all costs. If you helps us to deal with need to leave an abusive relationship, I urge in the spotlight during the the problem and find a you to build up your courage and seek help worldwide 16 Days of Activism solution. It’s no help to get out. Be independent from men. to keep silent about such issues. Joseph Phiri, community member, for No Violence Against Thabazimbi Women and Children from Denosa Maitsapo, community member, 25 November to 10 December. Mononono, Northam I think it is the abusers who need to be advised much more than the victims. We Some Amandelbult Times must continue to look for ways to encourage readers share their thoughts men to examine their behaviour so that they can change it, for their own good and the and feelings about woman good of the community. and child abuse. Norman Mokgatle, gardener, Swartklip Talk about the abuse to someone so that you can find healing and closure. This will also help other women out there. Let’s break the cycle of suffering in silence. You have to acknowledge the problem in order to fix it. Sebapaleng Mokonyane, community member, Regorogile, Thabazimbi Abuse is when someone Suffering in silence will get you nowhere. forces you to do something Seek help, because you owe it to yourself, against your will. There is your children and your loved ones to find physical, emotional and peace and to live in an environment that economic abuse. Abuse is free from the pain caused by abuse does not have a place in and violence. our society! Alicia Swart, PNA manager, Thabazimbi Kgomotso Ramorwalo, Masechaba Events director, Thabazimbi To all abused children and women – it’s important to speak out. Either tell a friend about what’s happening or approach a relative you trust. Let’s not be ashamed about what people may share. It’s your life and you need to own it. Dimakatso Mohale, Rock of Springs College We’d like to hear from you. student, Northam The rate of woman and child abuse is too high. Amandelbult Times is your No abusive relationship platform to share your views must be tolerated. As men, and news about happenings in we must lead by example the communities surrounding by showing love and affection! the Amandelbult Complex. Omphile Pilane, t’s our readers who make community member, Amandelbult Times a newsworthy Regorogile, Thabazimbi I publication. You need to help us to fill the newspaper with articles that will interest you. Let us know what’s happening in your community and who you would like to see recognised for their achievements. EMAIL US All you need to do is email us your comments and ideas. We will get back to you to get the story. You may well find your words and even your Awareness helps us to educate the photograph in upcoming issues! youth and community members so that we can all change our behaviour. amandelbult.times@ I think social workers have an angloamerican.com important role to play in helping TERMS AND CONDITIONS women and children who find • You need to provide us with your themselves being abused. name, surname and the name of the Lina Ndou, community member, community you live in. Thabazimbi • You may remain anonymous if you choose. Your name won’t be published in the newspaper, but you still need to provide your details to the editor, who We need to protect women will not reveal your identity. and children. We mustn’t hurt Taking a firm stand against abuse them. I urge those who are is the first step towards ending it. Amandelbult Times is in abusive relationships to Abuse of women and children published by Anglo American get help as soon as they can. doesn’t have a place in our country! Platinum, 55 Marshall Street, Domestic violence and abuse Don’t look away! We need to stop the Johannesburg, South Africa. destroy families. Be a good friend to cycle of abuse. It is produced and distributed by the Platinum Bushvelder someone who needs your help. Rofhiwa Sigeda, community member, newspaper. Peter van Rooyen, Rush Hour manager, Northam Regorogile, Thabazimbi AMANDELBULT TIMES ISSUE 34 COMMUNITY 3 Reminding people to be unconditional about safety, Amandelbult “Always be patient, Complex’s protection services teamed up with members of the compassionate and local transport, safety and fire departments as well as organised understanding of other labour to raise road safety awareness on 31 October. drivers. Obey traffic rules and never drink eeping our people the fact that the biggest gift All of these tests came up clear, and drive. Being safe and promoting their you can give to your family is to to the team’s delight. patient pays off.” well-being at work, arrive alive were distributed to The team also checked K BJ&F Accountants at home and on the roads is employees and motorists passing whether drivers and passengers important to Anglo American Amandelbult Complex. were wearing safety belts and personal assistant Platinum. To drive this message More than 600 drivers were whether vehicles were roadworthy Patricia Motloi home, pamphlets highlighting tested for alcohol consumption. and drivers’ licenses valid. • Always obey the rules of the • Give yourself enough time to road, including: get where you’re going. » Ensuring that everyone in • Don’t run out of fuel. Plan your your vehicle wears a seatbelt refuelling stops. and that children are • Plan rest stops along the way. strapped into the correct car You need to take safety breaks seats or booster seats. every two hours or 200km. » Never drinking and driving. • Try to avoid driving after dark. » Not talking on cell phones or • Drive defensively. Risk takers texting while driving. are collision makers and there » Sticking to the speed limit. are sure to be some on the » Carrying your driver’s roads with you. licence with you. • Make sure that your vehicle is » Being aware of pedestrians roadworthy before you leave. and animals on the roads. Specifically check the wear The • Check your blind spot and pressure of your tyres. biggest constantly and don’t drive in • Have a good rest before you gift you anyone else’s blind spot. start your journey. can give to • Turn on your headlights so that your family is to • Keep emergency numbers FESTIVE ROAD SAFETY… Amandelbult Complex’s protection services teamed you’re visible. handy and know where you up with members of the local transport, safety and fire departments as well as arrive alive! • Use a GPS or a map to plan are so that you can tell people organised labour to give road safety a boost before the silly season really sets in. your route in advance. where to find you. Dear Distressed Wife, You are not alone. Sadly, there’s a lot of domestic violence and abuse of women and children. I’m sorry this is happening Dear Rakgadi, to you, but I’m glad you’ve decided to talk about it and get help. You should be proud of yourself for I’ve been married for many years and being brave enough to speak up. I need advice about something that has been bothering me for a long All is not lost. You can do something about this. Please keep taking your safety and time. I can no longer keep this secret the safety of your children very seriously. because I’m scared that my children You need to do whatever it takes to stop and I are not safe. this violence. If you can see that he’s about to get violent, try to remove yourself and My husband often hits me when your children from the situation before he he comes home drunk late at can attack you. night. We start arguing and he gets angry, then beats me. We have two If you can’t get out of the situation, be aware of anything he could use as a weapon. If you can, young children. lock away or hide any sharp or heavy things I have thought of fighting back, that he could use to hurt you before he but I’m afraid that this would only comes home. Please remember that make things worse. I have tried to used you have choices and speak to a professional counsellor about talk to him, but he won’t listen. I your options. to work, but I haven’t worked since the children arrived. Please help me In this month’s newspaper, there is to decide what to do. a list of agencies you can contact for help. Please talk to them, Distressed Wife sooner rather than later. Good luck! Rakgadi DISCLAIMER: Please note that Rakgadi is a fictional character. Rakgadi is a regular feature in Do you have a problem Her responses are managed by the Amandelbult Times editorial team.