South Africa’s Police minister Senzo Mchunu recently released the second-quarter crime statistics for the 2024/25 financial year. The report, which coincides with the annual 16 days of activism against Gender based violence campaign, revealed the rate of murder of women in the country to have risen by 8.6% during this period. Incidents of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against women are also noted to be alarmingly high.
These rising statistics in South Africa ties with global report on femicides, the most heinous form of violence against women. A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report shows that over eighty thousand women around the world were killed last year, about five thousand of these cases, were committed by an intimate partner or family member.
“These statistics are a cause for concern. What is even more troubling is the rise of cases of violence against children. It is an indictment on all of us that our society is exposed to GBVF, sexual violence, murder and assault in such alarming numbers. We need to redouble our efforts in ensuring the effective implementation of the NSP on GBVF which provides a useful pathway out of this crisis. As Sonke Gender Justice we remain committed to this noble task.” said Bafana Khumalo, Sonke’s Co-executive Director.
Sonke maintains zero tolerance on all forms of violence against women and girls and joins the globe to raise awareness on the scourge of violence and call for substantive actions by leaders to end these crimes.
ENDS/
Issued by Sonke Gender Justice.
For media enquiries contact:
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
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