Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has reaffirmed the department’s commitment to eradicate gender-based violence, and support families and communities affected by the scourge.
This comes after the murder of a 25-year-old woman, whose body was found in the middle of a road with several stab wounds at Umzinto, in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday.
Sibusiso Lawrence Ntaka allegedly killed his girlfriend, Nontobeko Cele, and posted his confession on social media.
Ntaka was later found hanging from a tree on Wednesday, not far from where Cele’s body was found.
Chikunga has strongly condemned the tragic and senseless murder and extended her deepest condolences to the family, friends, and Cele’s loved ones.
"This incident, which occurred shortly after the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, is a devastating reminder of the need to accelerate our efforts to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
“As a nation, we must move beyond 16 Days and commit to 365 Days of Activism to eradicate this scourge," Chikunga said.
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The Minister recently joined King Misuzulu kaZwelithini in KwaZulu-Natal, to lead the Men Unite Against GBVF March, which called on men to take an active stand against gender-based violence.
"This tragic case underscores the urgency of our call to action. It is a stark reminder that, while we are making strides in mobilising communities, more needs to be done to ensure these commitments translate into lasting change," the Minister said.
The department acknowledged the swift action by the South African Police Service in investigating the case, and the provision of psychosocial support to the families by social workers.
Misuse of social media
Chikunga also condemned the misuse of social media to perpetuate harm and violence.
"The exploitation of social media to glorify violence must be stopped. Platforms must take stronger measures to prevent the sharing of harmful content and ensure [that] the dignity of victims and their families is protected.”
The Minister further called for collaborative efforts across society to tackle GBVF.
"This incident reaffirms the need for robust, year-long interventions, community-based initiatives, and stricter measures to address GBVF at its root. We must unite as government, civil society, and individuals to create a South Africa where women and children can live without fear.”
Alarming rates of GBVF persist in KZN
Meanwhile, the province of KwaZulu-Natal continues to report alarming rates of GBVF.
The recent national crime statistics showed that police stations in the province, including Umlazi and Inanda, lead the country in gender-based violence related crimes.
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The data from the First South African National Gender-Based Violence Study, revealed that 35.5% of women in South Africa experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and many of these cases occurred in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Alarmingly, 22.4% of ever-partnered women reported experiencing physical intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime, while 7.9% reported experiencing sexual IPV.
“These figures highlight the pervasiveness of IPV as a major driver of GBVF. The department remains committed to implementing policies and programs that address the root causes of GBVF, promote gender equity, and hold perpetrators accountable,” Chikunga said. – SAnews.gov.za
