COPS GO DOOR-TO-DOOR TO CURB ABUSE OF WOMEN, CHILDREN
By Cobus Coetzee, Barberton

December 3, 2003 – (BuaNews - Pretoria) Policemen are going door-to-door in Mpumalanga's historical gold mining town of Barberton to campaign against the abuse of women and children.

The campaign started on Saturday as part of the larger, national campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, and will run through the festive season, said spokesman for Barberton police station, Inspector Faizel Essack.

"If you rape a woman or a child, the law will hit you hard," he warned.

The Barberton campaign aims to identify hot spots where women and child abuse is most prevalent.

Residents of Barberton and the neighbouring Emjindini Township can expect a police to knock at their door between 8am and 2pm right up until Christmas.

"We want to be more visible in the community and gear ourselves to be more effective," said Inspector Essack.

So far, extensions 10 to 12 in Emjindini have been identified as being particularly dangerous areas for women and children.

Inspector Essack said the community had welcomed the door-to-door attention and many residents blamed local shebeens as being the root of all violence in the area.

The police will now step up their patrols in these areas and keep a closer eye on shebeens.

The Barberton police station has a Victim Support Unit and a list of volunteers to help abused women and children.

For assistance, call the station on (013) 712 2233.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312030496.html