BLOEMFONTEIN: The Free State Department of Social Development has launched a 90-day Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) campaign aimed at mobilising the public to act. Launched on Wednesday, 1 October, the action programme is prompted by the never-ending scourge.
Mathabo Hlalele (formerly Leeto), MEC for Social Development, is leading the drive and said the awareness drive was significant, arising from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster meeting held in April this year.
“The JCPS Ministerial meeting reflected on the magnitude of GBVF in South Africa and reaffirmed government’s strategy in dealing with the plight in the country through increasing communication, awareness and community mobilisation.”
Although Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBVF as the second pandemic in the country, the effect of the scourge continues to worsen, with brutal violations of women and children in the province.
According to the department, the Mangaung Metro remains a hotspot.
“It is for this reason that on 14 May, Cabinet approved a 90-day programme for a visibility awareness campaign, social cohesion and parenting, economic sector participation, as well as communication and community mobilisation,” said Hlalele.
“These senseless acts of beastly violence against defenceless women and children have left an indelible stain, not only in our province, but countrywide.
“We have unfortunately earned the shameful label of a nation that casually murders its women and children.”
Brutal GBVF in the province is exemplified by the killing of young and adult women, for no apparent reason. These include Mpho Judith Moalusi, Olorota Mongalo, Bongiwe Phulampa, Puleng Motlodi and Khethiwe Nkambule.
“These poor women lost their lives because some cowards felt that they had the power to decide their fate.
“The perpetrators, driven by misplaced rage and a complete disregard for human life − and seemingly a deep-lying and raw hatred for women − were determined that they would violently take the lives of those defenceless women,” said Hlalele.
“Our country is known as a place where men are so emboldened that they can kill women and dispose of their bodies in pit latrines, as was the case with Motlodi of Thaba Nchu, whose abductors cut her life short at the age of only 19.”
“Ours is indeed a nation in need of help,” believes Hlalele.
