INDEPENDENT NEWS

Steenkamp Story To Be Told In NZ

Published: Wed 25 Feb 2015 09:01 AM
Steenkamp Story To Be Told In NZ
June Steenkamp to speak at domestic violence charity dinner
Her daughter was shot dead on Valentine’s Day 2013 by one of the world’s most famous athletes.
Now June Steenkamp - the mother of Reeva Steenkamp - is coming to New Zealand to share her experience of the effects of domestic violence.
Mrs Steenkamp is the primary guest speaker at a black tie dinner in Auckland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shine, New Zealand’s largest domestic abuse prevention service registered as a charitable trust.
Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp’s boyfriend of three months, was found guilty of killing her in the Johannesburg apartment they shared.
Reeva’s mother June sat silently through Pistorius’ trial following which he was convicted of culpable homicide, effectively manslaughter under New Zealand law.
He was sentenced to a maximum five years in prison with the possibility of serving the rest under correctional supervision after 10 months.
Mrs Steenkamp has since written a book – Reeva: A mother’s Story – and is active in addressing the global scourge that is domestic violence.
Shine’s The Light at the End of the Tunnel black tie dinner on 28 March at the Heritage Auckland Hotel is the only public speaking engagement in New Zealand by Mrs Steenkamp.
Domestic violence is truly a global issue and June Steenkamp’s book does not hold back when it comes to pointing the finger squarely at Pistorius for his alleged violent behaviour.
It’s acknowledged that South Africa is a violent country. But New Zealand figures show we too have our dark side, mostly hidden away in the privacy of family homes.
Every six minutes our police attend a domestic abuse incident. And new provisional figures released to Radio New Zealand show the country's rate of reported family violence has changed little in the past 12 months.
One in three women is physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Every five weeks a NZ child is killed by a member of his or her own family.
Shine says there needs to be more action in battling domestic violence and it is working hard to ensure we have safer homes in New Zealand every day.
The fundraiser celebrating 25 years of Shine is being hosted by radio personality and writer Kerre McIvor and includes a three-course dinner and a glass of bubbly, beer and wine.
There’s also live entertainment, thought-provoking guests speakers including June Steenkamp, and a charity auction.
ends

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