WELCOME
Coercive control is a pervasive form of abuse, it is covert, incidious, subtle, often invisible and silent.
Employment, shelter, children, money and sex are some of the tools used to reward or punish vicitms.
The impacts of covert abuse are violent and harmful.
WHAT WE DO
Empower Parents
Child Maintenance
Our free platform empowers parents on their children's rights to financial support through peer to peer sharing of experiences and information.
One on one paid coaching to navigate divorce, co-parenting, maintenance and protection orders.
BOOK WITH US
1 hr
749 South African rand
Ended
2 500 South African rand
FELICITY AN GUEST
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My own journey started in 2010 when I asked for a divorce, whilst I thought I was still negotiating I was emailed a divorce decree. This fraudulent divorce was set aside in August 2011 and the legitimate divorce eventually went through on my birthday in August 2012 but it did not end there.
I then entered into the maintenance system and have been in it since. Out of frustration and desperation I eventually applied for a protection order for economic abuse in 2014 to protect my adult neurodiverse child who needs care for the rest of his life.
The impacts of systemic ignorance and failures cause immediate harm and long into the future for the primary parent (mostly women) and children often condemning them to a life of abuse and poverty.
Economic abuse is a violent tool, it is a major contributor to gender inequality, poverty and gender based violence due to historic power imbalances and ongoing gender injustice. South Africa is in crisis however gender based violence is endemic in South Africa and whilst we have progressive legislation it does not equate to implementation and protection. The covert forms of domestic violence are not prioritised due to the overwhelming need to protect women against physical and sexual abuse however in the absence of understanding coercive controlling behaviour we will not effectively reduce the vulnerability of our most vulnerable, women and children.
In July 2014 I founded Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa, to provide peer to peer support for other parents navigating the maintenance system which currently has over 86 000 members of which 85% are women, this speaks to the magnitude of the gendered problem. The sharing and access to knowledge has empowered women to actively participate in the process of their maintenance applications which results in more favourable outcomes
51%
of women in SA have experienced gender-based violence
98%
of gender-based violence survivors experienced economic abuse
and
60% of mothers get NO child support
Gender-based violence in SA
In South Africa, one in two women face domestic violence, according to the Africa Health Organisation. 98% Of domestic violence victims in South Africa experience economic abuse.
Child maintenance is often manipulated to punish or reward the primary parent (mostly women), it is legally required but not received by over 60% of women. This contributes to gender inequality, poverty, and ongoing domestic violence. Better enforcement of the Maintenance Act could protect vulnerable women and children and help South Africa meet its 2030 sustainable development goals.
Economic abuse limits a victim's access to resources, creating dependency and making it difficult to leave abusive relationships. This abuse often continues post-separation, with financial control used to coerce victims. The mental and emotional impact is profound, affecting victims' personal and work lives.
Gender Based Violence occurs everywhere including the work space, creating safer work spaces is not only a legislative requirement but a moral one.
Businesses can play a crucial role in supporting employees by understanding the complexities of gender-based violence, including covert forms like coercive control. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of prioritizing employee well-being for better performance and productivity.