Rethink needed about gender-based violence

KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, has criticised the absence of men at campaigns to end gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking during 16 Days of Activism in Newcastle, she said initiatives to eradicate the scourge of GBV will not succeed if women are left to talk among themselves.

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Simelane-Zulu revealed plans to ignite men’s consciences and ‘douse the aggression and perversion that fuel gender-based violence’.

This will be achieved through a series of round table discussions, while also strengthening existing programmes.

She said the time has come for men to ask themselves some tough questions.

‘Every month young people are being killed. We have horrific cases. What are we facing as a society? Why are men so angry? What is this anger about? That’s what we need to address.

‘What kind of man lusts after a six-month-old baby and seeks sexual pleasure from them?’ Simlane-Zulu said.

‘As women, we fear for our own safety. We fear for the safety of our own sisters and our own children. We are so far gone as a society that we fear for the safety of the grannies who gave birth to us.’

She called on courts to think twice before granting bail to people accused of abusing their partners, especially in the presence of overwhelming evidence, as this sometimes escalates to murder.

‘Some women are killed after opening cases against their partners. We need to have a discussion with the National Prosecution Authority, where we must ask how a known person who is feared, and when there is evidence that he assaulted or stabbed his partner, manages to walk out the gate, despite police having put together all the evidence that is needed.

‘We need to have a discussion, because the law says when looking at bail conditions, you consider whether there’s likelihood for that person to go back and cause further harm to their victims. We need all stakeholders in the value chain of the fight against gender-based violence to play their part.’

She also took aim at parents’ approach to rearing boys and girls, saying this made boys grow up with a sense of entitlement over women.

‘We always give boys more leeway than girls. When the clock hits 4pm, we say no girl child should still be out on the street. But the boy can be out until 8pm, and we think that’s normal.

‘This will continue until they’re old and boys will believe they are superior. We must agree at home that the girls must also be respected equally.’

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