On this day, 66 years ago, the brave women who took to the streets, paved the way for a better South Africa for all. We salute and honour their legacy.
However, fast forward to 2022, and the promise of a united and safe South Africa evades us. Gender-based violence within families, communities, and society at large, has been increasing at an alarming rate. Statistics show that, in 2021, one in every five women was subject to physical violence.
These figures should keep President Ramaphosa and his minister of police awake at night. But their conduct shows a disregard for the issue of violence against women and children. We were shocked by Bheki Cele’s recent statement, saying that young women are lucky if they are raped by only one man. This alone gives the President enough reason to finally fire Cele! But he does nothing.
On 5 September 2019, President Ramaphosa addressed the public outside of Parliament on the scourge of GBV and responded to the public outcry when news headlines highlighted the victims of GBV, Uyinene Mrwetyana, Leighandre Jegels, Janika Mallo, Ayakha Jiyane and her three siblings
In his speech on the day, the President promised an additional eleven sexual offenses courts that will be established in the same financial year. He also promised that the national register of offenders will list all men convicted of acts of violence against women and publicise this register. He also committed to proposing to the cabinet that all crimes against women and children should attract harsher minimum sentences.
These and an array of other empty promises, yet again, prove the President’s unwillingness to act. No progress has been seen since and our women and children continue to be victims of domestic and gender-based violence.
As the DA Women’s Network in the Western Cape, we call for the devolution of policing powers to provinces and local governments which is the only solution to the scourge of violence against women and children. This women’s month we are taking our fight against GBV to the doorstep of President Ramaphosa and we invite every woman to join us. Empty promises are not good enough anymore. We call on the government to take serious steps toward making it safer for women and children in South Africa.