By Kaya 959 Reporter
As the country enters into 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children, Gauteng health calls on communities to do more to end gender-based violence.
Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko this week attended a prayer service at Orange Farm. She joined hands with faith-based organisations and residents to fight GBV.
About 9 556 people, mostly women, were raped between July and September this year. The figure was revealed in crime statistics released last week.
Meanwhile, nearly 73 000 assault cases were reported in the same period. More than 13 000 of those cases were domestic abuse.
“We have engaged in numerous means of fighting gender-based violence but we have decided to include religious organisations in our fight against this scourge,” Mazibuko said at the meeting.
She added that anyone who is a danger to society must be kept where they belong, in prison. Mazibuko said this will ensure that safer communities are created for women and children.
Men need to play a greater role
Mazibuko urged bishops and pastors to listen to church members who encountered domestic violence.
“Due to COVID-19, people were forced to stay home and spend more time with their families as a result the province, particularly Orange Farm, has recorded high numbers of GBV,” she says.
The MEC further pleaded with community members to go back to their roots of being a peaceful and harmonious nation.
In his weekly letter to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the statistics were shameful.
“Just as ending GBV cannot be the state’s responsibility alone, the onus cannot be on women and children to end the shocking levels of violence and abuse being visited upon them.
“South African men need to play a greater role in preventing GBV. They need to understand what constitutes gender-based violence, especially sexual violence,” he said.
