South African President Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, has described violence against women as a “brutality that defies any form of comprehension.”
Ramaphosa stated this while announcing the decision of cabinet to ease COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants for sit-down meals, accommodation facilities, conference facilities, cinemas and theatres, casinos, personal care services (including hairdressers and beauty services), non-contact sports, contact sports (but only for training).
Ramaphosa also took the opportunity to talk tough on gender-based violence, which has hit headlines in the past week after the gruesome deaths of several women.
He said “with the heaviest heart” that women in the country are facing violence from men. He said he is “appalled” at a “war” being waged against women and children in the country, and that violence is being “unleashed on the women and children… with a brutality that defies any form of comprehension.”
He said 21 women and children have been killed in the past few weeks. He recites the names of women, whose deaths have hit headlines over the past week, who were killed by men.
READ ALSO: Half of murdered women killed by ‘partners’ – UN deputy chief
“These women are just not statistics”, he said, adding that our “hearts, thoughts and prayers are with them”. He commended the police for arresting almost all of the alleged perpetrators.
He said the country now has a national plan to combat gender-based violence. He reminded the country of the GBV hotline available during the lockdown.
He assured the women and children of SA that the justice system will focus on issues of GBV, and ensured more arrests in these incidents to follow. He says the court sentences must reflect the seriousness of GBV.
He said the country is facing a coronavirus epidemic and a gender-based violence epidemic. He called on the public to act responsibly and take care of one another.
“The road ahead will be long and difficult, but the task of recovery will also be long and considerable,” he said.
Source: News 24
