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Women’s groups like Rape Crisis and POWA(People against Woman Abuse) agree that there is a serious underreporting of rapes in South Africa. Rape Crisis uses a figure of 1 in 20 as a conservative estimate. Whether they are 1 in 20 or 1 in 35, is not the issue, according to the organisation. The figures are very high and that is the real issue. If the estimates are to be believed, one in every three women will be raped in South Africa during her life.

Apart from rape, women are also mugged, assaulted and hijacked and murdered regularly in South Africa. Life cannot come to a standstill because women fear being targeted. And many women are also attacked in their own homes, so complete withdrawal is not really an option either. So what are women to do?

“Take basic precautions”, says Sanette Smit, self-defence expert and author of the book The South African Woman’s Guide to Self-Defence. “And if you are attacked, getting away should be a woman’s main objective, but if you can’t, fight back, as nine out of every ten rapists and attackers are not expecting resistance.”

So what are the basic precautions?

In public places

• Be alert at all times and on the lookout for strangers in your area.
• If your sixth sense alerts you to danger, listen to it and turn around or get to safe place. It is better to be safe – and late – than sorry.
• Avoid dark places or alleys or areas with lots of vegetation.
• Vary your routine and your route – don’t leave work or home at exactly the same time every day, as someone could be watching your movements.
• Don’t hesitate to ask friends, colleagues or security personnel to accompany you to your car if you leave work late.
• Don’t wear expensive jewellery, or carry your purse or cellphone in your hand as this could alert muggers.
• Don’t relax your precautions in parking garages or lifts – many women have been attacked in these two places.
• It is better to be thought rude by strangers than to be attacked by someone who uses your unwillingness to offend as a weapon against you.
• Carry an anti-mugging device. It is cheap, freely available, you don’t need a licence for it. Teargas or pepper spray, if used properly, will immobilize any attacker.
• Try to minimise night-time driving, as hijacks mostly take place after dark. Don’t come to a complete standstill at traffic lights and stop streets after dark. Slow down, check the oncoming traffic carefully and continue driving.
• Lock your doors and windows when driving around.
• Join the AA. Don’t get out of your car if you break down or walk along the highway on your own. Use your cellphone to summon help.
• Don’t sit alone in deserted train carriages.
• If you are attacked, scream, shout and fight back. This will put off most attackers as they are not expecting it. It could also summon help from passersby.
• Check your car before you get in to make sure no-one is in it.
• When walking in public, don’t amble. Look purposeful and walk briskly.

At home

• If there are strangers in front of your house, especially at night, don’t stop your car. Drive around the block or go away completely.
• Invest in 24-hour armed response. Your safety cannot really be measured in rands and cents. Burglars and other criminals will usually avoid houses that have these signs up, and even if they don’t, at least you know armed response will be there in minutes if you press the panic button.
• Don’t relax your security precautions just because your husband or boyfriend is at home.
• Don’t open your door to strangers. Ask to see ID of people claiming to be from legitimate organisations like the council or Telkom.
• Do a self-defence course, so that you know how to fight back if you are attacked.
• Get a cellphone for security reasons. Put it next to your bed at night and predial your security company’s number. This way you could contact them by pressing one button.
• Never take in strangers from the street to do odd-jobs.
• Remember that a fair percentage of the hawkers/beggars who come to your door could have ulterior motives. Give regularly to a charity and don’t feel guilty for not helping everyone who comes to your door.
• If you wake up at night and hear something in the house, get out as soon as possible and call for help. Don’t investigate on your own – there might be 4 or 5 people and you won’t be a match for them.

For more information on self-defence workshops for women 15 years and above, phone Margaret at (021) 461 0036 or Smitti on 0824153960.

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