Members of Simunye Inter-denominational Women’s Organisation deliver a memorandum against gender-based violence to KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court.
“As mothers, we feel that our future and that of our daughters is facing a great threat from the unjust violence, rape and gruesome murder of women in the country,” they said.
“We believe that an integrated approach to fight against the scourge, where different arms of government and religious groups work together, has the ability to ensure better protection for women,” said Faith Matse, leader of the march.
Read: Mpumalanga takes action against gender-based violence
She added that according to the records from GRIP, the local hospital attends to more than 30 rape cases a month. “During the year 2018 there were 909 rape cases reported from KaBokweni, and that reduced by a very minimal percentage, we are saying this has to be reduced to zero percent,” she said.
The women demanded that the magistrate strengthen prevention efforts by imposing harsher sentences on perpetrators: a minimum sentence of life and a maximum of 50 life sentences.
“The magistrate must refuse bail to perpetrators. The law must also impose harsher sentences to drug dealers because these are found to be driving the suspects to engage in violence and criminal activities,”read the memorandum.
They also called on courts to attend to cases of violence and abuse with immediate effect, for families to find closure. These demands were handed to the senior magistrate, who promised to raise them with relevant departments.
