MEC Nkosi-Malobane to tackle gender-based violence in the entertainment industry

The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi- Mabolane , has vowed to intensify the fight against gender-based violence in the communities and various sectors including the entertainment industry in the province.

This follows an engagement session with young women from the entertainment industry held yesterday, 12 March, to find creative ways on how to deal with the scourge of gender-based violence.

To this end the MEC will be hosting a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Dialogue on Monday, 17 March 2019, targeting over 500 young women from the entertainment industry and other sectors.

“Violence against women is a violation of basic human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.  We cannot allow gender-based violence to derail the careers of our emerging artists and of those that are already established. It is important that we must denounce gender-based violence from rearing its ugly head in our entertainment sector and various sectors within our province. It is for this reason that as Gauteng City region, we urge women influencers and women in different spheres of work  with us to end the silence against gender-based violence,” said Nkosi-Malobane.

In Gauteng, 43 587 cases of common assault were reported and 10 116 sexual offences were recorded in 2018.

The MEC has further called upon entertainment personnel irrespective of their social standing to report all forms of gender-based violence in their respective spaces.

“I am delighted that our government does not take gender-based violence lightly. On 5 March 2019, the Gauteng MEC for Finance, Barbara Creecy announced an allocation of R69.3 million to fight crimes against women and children. This is a very serious commitment by government to tackle gender-based violence cases. As Gauteng City Region, we will continue to walk the path with all victims, survivors of gender-based violence and empower them with prevention strategies. Through our departmental victim empowerment centre, Ikhaya Lethemba, which continues to be a sanctuary for victims of abuse, we will make available holistic services to any victim irrespective of their social standing such as psycho-social services and medico-legal services amongst others,” Nkosi-Malobane said.

Reflecting on the session, gender activist, Sarah Lendha from Sister Working in Film and Television (Swift) said that she was grateful for the MEC’s intervention as it showed a responsive approach by government in reducing gender-based violence.

“I am grateful for the MEC for leading this initiative because one of the major reasons that cause women not to speak up is their disappointment with the criminal justice system. Through the department’s intervention, this brings a level of hope that the government is serious about eradicating the scourge,” said Lendha.

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