Report crimes against women and children

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is calling on South Africans to report criminal behaviour targeted against women and children.

“We must challenge the toxic and violent norms and values that perpetuate the violence in our homes, schools, workplaces and churches. We need collective action to report criminality and intervene as communities in promoting prevention of crimes,” Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said.

The  Minister’s comments came after the 4th quarter crime statistics released by Police Minister, Bheki Cele, which painted a horrific picture of the extent of violence against women and children, particularly girls in South Africa.

“Although the current statistics paint a horrific picture of violence in our homes and communities, the unfortunate reality is that there are many who continue to suffer from extreme forms of violence, in silence. Therefore, we are really faced with a shadow pandemic of violence against women and children,” Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said.

The statistics indicated that there is an increase in the number of contact crimes, particularly murders and sexual violence.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane noted that many researchers, academics, and activists working in the gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) sector put this figure much higher due to the increasing number of unsolved murder and assault cases still under investigation.

Minister Cele echoed the sentiments expressed by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane on the need to take decisive action by society to respond to the prevalence of violence in communities.

She emphasised that citizens can no longer ignore how high levels of violence remain a threat to the social, cognitive, physical development of the country’s future. – SAnews.gov.za