National Union of Mine women workers in a peaceful march
Members of the National Union of Mine (NUM) workers women recently marched to the police station to hand over a memorandum over abuse of women and children.
The peaceful march from the old traffic office to Witbank Police Station was held on Saturday, December 13.
The members said as women structures organised by NUM have decided to raise their concerns through a peaceful protest march. They claimed that they have been perturbed by the manner in which the SAPS has been handling some of the cases reportedly by victims of abuse who are being killed assaulted every minute of their lives.
“We therefore present this memorandum to the SAPS and community at large, in hope that all we are raising will be addressed. We are here to display our anger, rage and dissatisfaction at the manner in which the lives of women and children have been undermined by the hooligans who continue to terrorise them on daily basis and wants to take over our country. Young women are being abused left, right and centre. Women are being raped and killed like flies. We are very much unhappy about that,” reads part of the memorandum.
It further says that they have noticed the increased of women who are being assaulted by drug addicts, husbands, boyfriends and fathers. They say the country constitution continues to protect the perpetrators while the victims are left defenseless at the mercy of their attackers.
“It has now become a daily or hourly activity that women and children are both raped, killed and physical abused, assaulted or even all of the above mentioned happens to them. As women structure and South African citizens we are saying enough is enough, we have noted that failure or unwillingness of the government to deal with the gender based violence and these social ills. Police, working together with the community must work together in putting a stop in women and child abuse.”
*They further demanded a full protection of women and children by all entities of the state and the community
*That the SAPS must start to priorities all the gender related crimes especially where women and children are concerned
*That the should be no bail granted to the perpetrators who rape and kill women and children as they often go back and kill the witnesses
*That prosecutor must oppose all bail applicants on gender-based violence and make sure that witnesses are put on witness protection programme.
“Finally, women structures demand a full commitment by the authorities to act decisively and urgently on these concerns raised above and NUM will not rest until these demands are met.”
In presenting the memorandum the women said they were not happy that the station commander was not there to accept the memorandum as promised and said they felt undermined.
Major Dudu Mahlangu accepted the memorandum and Ms Busisiwe Mahlangu presented the memorandum.
