To mark the 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children, Sonke through the Inkanyezi project partnered with traditional leaders, government departments, civil society and the Mnquma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, to reaffirm its commitment to the prevention of and ending violence against women and girls.
The launch of the campaign was held in Bawa Village, an area affected by high levels of social challenges and Gender-Based Violence. The strategic choice of this location was aimed at raising awareness and engaging the community directly, to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against GBV. It is in this village where an elderly woman was allegedly raped and murdered by a suspect in his 20s years. Sonke is currently monitoring the case, to ensure that the perpetrator faces the full might of the law. “The safety of elderly women in villages in the Eastern Cape remains a serious concern. Community members have alleged that drugs are being distributed using police vehicles, an issue that activists must urgently raise with the South African Police Services management. If these allegations are confirmed, those responsible must be held fully accountable’’ said Sonke’s Senior Trainer Leo Mbobi.
The event drew more than a hundred attendees, most of them rural women from villages. It offered hope by providing vital information on recognising abuse and accessing support services. Many participants voiced their fears as the festive season approaches, a period when incidents of violence often rise.
Nomakhaya Barnes from the Butterworth Thuthuzela Care centre, spoke about the service offering of the centre and reflected on the increasing numbers of sexual violence that are reported. “If we are seeing an increase in reported rape cases, it shows that more people are becoming aware of the Thuthuzela Care Centre’s services, and we encourage more survivors to come forward. We are also pleased with the conviction rates delivered by the Butterworth Court, because this helps restore people’s trust in the justice system’’ Barnes said.
Another speaker at the event was Councillor Sisa Matutu who represented the Executive Mayor of the area. Matutu highlighted the problem of drugs in Bawa village and indicated that traditional leadership need to strengthen their initiatives in fighting the scourge of GBV. “We will ensure there is more police visibility during this festive season. Any places selling alcohol beyond the legal duration will be shut down, and illegal alcohol will be confiscated. We encourage SAPS to establish Community Police Forums, and we urge traditional leaders to strengthen by-laws, especially in partnership with the Liquor Board’’ he said.
Last month, during the G20 Social Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBVF as a National Disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2002, signaling a coordinated national response to the scourge. The classification calls on all organs of state to strengthen support for existing GBVF response structures, put contingency plans into action, and ensure that all necessary mechanisms are in place so the National Executive can respond to this disaster effectively. As the 16 days of activism campaign nears its end, activists are calling for and extension of 365 days against GBV for fight the scourge.
