One of the worst years in fight against gender-based violence

Amid celebrations of 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children around the world, MEC for Transport and Community Safety Makoma Makhurupetje revealed in her address during the provincial launch of the campaign that this was one of the most brutal years in the fight against gender-based violence.
In one of the most recent incidents two former learners of a school outside Marken was arrested on Sunday after an incident in which they allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped a 28-year-old female educator. See story elsewhere.
“It is one of the years where we experienced the most shocking tales of women and children being abused. I’m sure we all agree that rape and rape culture are on the rise in our communities and especially in our institutions of higher learning. This year alone we have heard numerous reports of young women at universities who got killed at the hands of their so-called lovers after suffering either rape or gender-based violence,” Makhurupetje was quoted in her address on behalf of Premier Stan Mathabatha at the launch of the campaign at Naphuno outside Tzaneen on Sunday. She emphasised that gender-based violence are not spared at religious places as women are touched inappropriately in churches and raped in the name of prayers. “Apart from that we also have many incidents where young women are victimised in demand of sex for jobs. Students and women academics are also raped in institutions of higher learning and are forced to face their abusers every day on campuses. All these extreme cases require us to strengthen both rural and urban activism in order to improve the socio-economic status of women and girls,” she said.
She reiterated the mission of government is to propagate a message that condemns violence and the abuse of women and children. “We want this violence to eventually come to an end sooner rather than later. Government runs the 16 Days of Activism Campaign to create public awareness on the negative impact of violence on women and children and to encourage collective action against all types of abuse.”
Makhurupetje further indicated that the intention of the campaign was to raise awareness, to expand accountability, to mobilise active and patriotic citizenry, to foster a paradigm shift and to communicate a coherent message that encourages communities to work together towards a violent-free country.
“It is also the aim of the campaign to ensure that the Police take seriously the reported cases of domestic violence and that there is significant reduction in femicide and cases of domestic violence each year.”
Makhurupetje stressed that progress has been made in the fight against gender-based violence and the general oppression of women since 1994. “In 1994 there were only 28% women in Parliament and are now standing at 43%. In the Provincial Legislature we then had 25% women and now 42%. In the past more girls dropped out of school than boys but now more girls pass Grade 12 than boys. All this signify good progress government has made,” she said.
She concluded by saying that only by speaking out will perpetrators be brought to book.

Story: RC Myburgh
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