16 days of activism against gender-based violence launched
Only one in ten women said that victims would go to the police for help
According to the United Nations (UN) one in three women are abused in their life time.
Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development says she was concerned about the increasing number of women who are abused.
MEC Lindiwe Ntshalitshali says this when representing Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence was launched.
The launching was held at the Klarinet sports grounds on Friday, November 26.
The report from the UN says at times of crisis, the number rise, as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent humanitarian crisis, conflicts and climate disasters.
A new report from the UN Women, based on data from 13 countries since the pandemic shows that two in three women reported that they or a women they know experienced some form of violence and are more likely to face food insecurity.
Only one in ten women said that victims would go to the police for help.
MEC Ntshalitshali said that the campaign serves to pay respect to all the women who were abused and are still abused.
A moment of silence was observed in their honour.
She added to say the South African government wants to join the world to advocate for all the women and children who are abused.
“As the government we are committed to help them. We have been losing and still losing women and children through abuse. Abusers have no place in our society; they must be kept in jails. Some of the women have died in silence and we continue to have a high level of crime against women and children. Another concern is the number of women who because of being victims, often withdrawing cases. Vosman Police Station is one of the top 30 in the province with a high number of gender-based violence cases opened”.
According to a report of the 4 148 cases opened, 84 were for murder, 716 for rape, 72 were for sexual assault, 25 for attempted murder, 1 302 were for assault and 1 862 for common assault.
A number of police stations including the local stations were said to be problem areas.
Ntshalitshali says they will request the national minister of justice and correctional services to increase the number of sexual offenses courts in rural areas as well as to increase access to this courts.
She hoped that will increase convictions and will ensure that harsher sentences are meted against perpetrators of this acts.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakeleng Manamela said they were also concerned as police about the increasing numbers of cases opened in the area of eMalahleni.
She urged community members to work in hand with police and form community policing forum structures.
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