Mashatile calls for year-round action against GBV

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says a full year of action is required to combat gender-based violence and femicide, not just 16 days.

He was delivering the keynote address at the launch of the national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Rustenburg.

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign mobilises all sectors of society to collaborate in fighting the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

It intensifies the call for people to challenge attitudes and stereotypes that perpetuate Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

Mashatile says teen pregnancies signify a decline in moral standards.

“We must understand that child pregnancies do not happen in a vacuum. They are the result of deep-rooted socio-economic, cultural, and educational issues. Many child pregnancies are the result of rape and sexual abuse. This indicates a decline in moral standards within our society, and we must deal with such individuals by reporting them to the police, denying them bail, and placing them in jail. If we are to win this battle against GBV, we must act collectively and not shield those who commit these heinous crimes.”

Mashatile says it is not enough to simply react to violence, it must also be prevented.

“We must have zero tolerance toward gender violence in online and digital spaces. The rise of the digital economy and the increasing use of technology in our daily lives have introduced new avenues for perpetrators to harm, exploit, and abuse women and children. From cyberbullying and online harassment to the dangers posed by social media platforms, digital spaces can become breeding grounds for violence.”

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Breadwinner

The Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga says many women remain trapped in abusive relationships because the abuser is the breadwinner.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign is a United Nations campaign that takes place annually from November 25 until December 10.

DA leads protest in Gqeberha

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has led a protest in Gqeberha in support of Enough Now, a local non-profit organisation fighting GBV.

The DA has called on the African National Congress (ANC)-led Nelson Mandela Bay municipality to fast-track an application for a victim’s support centre.

Provincial DA Women’s Network Chairperson Nomvano Zibonda says in a province facing a severe GBV crisis, the issue should be a year-round priority.

“To mark the start of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the DA leads a protest at the Nelson Mandela Ward 11 office in Gqeberha. The protest was in support of Enough Now, a non-profit organisation which is advocating for the establishment of a victim support center for abused women at the Ward Office. We also handed over a memorandum to the municipality. It’s time for the municpality to care about GBV. “