MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

DAWN calls for justice in Gordon case

By

The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) will, on 1 October, hold a picket outside the Magistrate’s court in Port Elizabeth calling for justice to be served against alleged wife beater Frederick Gordon.

DAWN stands for women’s rights, constitutionality and justice for victims of gender violence.

Avril Gordon, a woman subjected to months of violent physical abuse was raped with a hot knife by her husband. She is partially blind after losing vision in her left eye and struggles to hear. Avril’s hands are unusable as they were savagely broken when she tried to shield herself from the beatings.

South Africa is a country with high levels of violence and this iconic case will serve as an opportunity for the state to make a strong stand. Dawn has supported Avril throughout the case and has raised funds for her to show solidarity.

Gender based violence is one of the biggest challenges faced by women in South Africa. Just last month we celebrated women’s month marking the 57th year since the historic protest march – on 9 August 1956, where some 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings, in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.

DAWN picket outside the Magistrate’s as Freddie Gordon faces his sentencing.

Celeste Barker

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.