By SHANNON SKAE, Health Coach at Revive with Shan Content warning: Suicide Poor mental health continues to be a crisis in South Africa, with recent numbers showing that over one-third of South Africans are affected. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reported that since October 2021, suicide numbers have increased. SADAG reports that there are an estimated 23 suicides and 460 attempted suicides per day in South Africa. It is unclear how many go unreported. Calls to the SADAG helpline have significantly increased from 600 per day to approximately 2200. The increase in attempted and completed suicide rates…
Author: Nyx Mclean
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By ROD AMNER and NYX MCLEAN This edition of GMDirect is our last one for the year. It is incredible how quickly the time has passed since our first late night in early August putting together articles to be sent out on a Friday morning. Grocott’s Mail shifted slightly when we stepped in. While we continued to be a source of news for the community, and we have enjoyed covering news in Makhanda like the local government elections and illegal dumping, we also became a teaching newspaper. We have spent the last few months mentoring students in their journeys as…
By MAKWENA MANAKA Joza Police Station has one of the highest gender-based violence (GBV) reporting rates in the Sarah Baartman District. This was revealed by Joza SAPS station commander Colonel Nomsa Mtshagi at a GBV dialogue session on Thursday, 25 November, attended by about 80 people at Noluthando Hall. The dialogue – themed “The year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke – moving from awareness to accountability” – marked the start of Makhanda’s response to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Abuse campaign. Mtshagi said many GBV cases are opened over weekends and that alcohol abuse was a contributing factor.…
By NYX MCLEAN The last few weeks have seen us at Grocott’s Mail confronted with some tough and very sensitive topics, namely sexual violence in schools. As we find ourselves at the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, I find that we need to reflect on our commitment to reporting on gender-based violence and violence against children. I wrote my Masters thesis over ten years ago on rape reporting at Grocott’s Mail, finding that the newspaper did not have the capacity to report effectively on gender-based violence (GBV) and that, at the time, it was not…
By KIRAN MOLLOY “The evidence internationally is irrefutable,” comments Rhodes University Psychology professor in sexual and reproductive health Catriona Macleod. “Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is an essential foundation for promoting sexual and reproductive health in a country.” CSE was a government syllabus developed over 20 years ago. But resistance from organisations, parents, and educators meant that only 5% of South Africans schools were teaching sex education by 2016. Opposing organisations, such as STOP CSE and Concerned Young People of South Africa, have accused the CSE syllabus of teaching promiscuity, promoting contraception and “alternative” (homosexual) sexual practices, and exposing children to…
By KIM BARKER, Pastoral Therapist, Sexual Violence Researcher in Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction, Rhodes University The current heightened awareness of child sexual abuse resulting from high-profile cases at local schools has many people talking about creating ‘safe spaces’ where young people can disclose sexual abuse. It seems helpful to unpack what that means and what ‘safe spaces’ may look like. I want to state upfront that just because it is currently in the news, abuse of children is not increasing or getting worse – sadly, it has always happened. There are simply more channels now for investigating and communicating…
By ROD AMNER It’s been a strange news week – a surprise around every corner as the day of the Makana Council inauguration drew near. On Monday, we received an official news release from ANC Provincial Secretary Lulama Ngcukaytobi that our new mayor would be Nomhle Gaga. But, on inauguration day, we found that former speaker Yandiswa Vara had been sworn in as Makana’s mayor. Our readers greeted it as a happy surprise. But, soon after the inauguration, we learned that Yandiswa Vara would be leaving soon – to be replaced by Gaga, in all likelihood. These shenanigans evoked a…
By NYX MCLEAN Makhanda based non-profit Sisonke South Afrika wants to “end period poverty in our lifetime” through their most recent campaign Palesa Care. Andile Twani, together with Anele and Ndumiso Mahlakahlaka, co-founded Sisonke South Afrika last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sisonke provides food parcels, clothing, and blankets to those in need. Since their establishment in August last year, they noticed something else occurring in the communities they serve. A high number of girl children were not attending school. The reason? They did not have access to sanitary pads during their periods. Palesa Care is a campaign…
By ROD AMNER AND NYX MCLEAN, Grocott’s Mail editors Since we published the anonymous article last week in which a member of our community spoke about their abuse at school, we have received a sustained response from community members on the topic of sexual violence and abuse in schools. This week we are publishing several articles, one of which is another anonymous letter from a survivor of sexual abuse at school. This person flagged the need to expand discussions to identify signs of abuse in young people. We also received an article from a school psychologist, Kaitlin Yendall, in which…
By EMMA CHARLENE LUBAALE, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Rhodes University Gender-based violence (GBV) is at an all-time high globally, with South Africa being no exception. Previously, GBV was considered a private matter. Consequently, survivors of GBV suffered in silence. Over the years, public discussions on issues of GBV have gained momentum. The media has notably played a role in shedding light on cases of GBV, thus, making known their seriousness, prevalence and need for redress. All considered the role of reporting GBV cannot be overemphasised. However, while reporting on GBV is crucial and needs to be encouraged, the lines…