Marchers highlight violence against women
JUSTICE and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha says more than 60% of inmates in South African prisons are young offenders charged with violent crimes.
Masutha and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula were addressing close to 200 people yesterday, who marched in the #OneTooManySA campaign to highlight the surge in violence against women and children.
Masutha said young offenders were predominantly perpetrators of violent crimes and highlighted the abundance of drugs in poor communities and the need for stronger gender relations for young men being reared within these communities.
Mbalula said they had heard the marchers, and that the memorandum handed over by marchers would be used within his department to tighten their procedures and ensure no woman was ever turned away.
Ilitha Labantu, with other civil society organisations, had handed over the memorandum in front of Parliament yesterday, demanding answers and commitments for serious engagements on a range of issues.
The march follows a series of awareness drives outside courts and police stations following the spike in violence against women and children.
Ilitha Labantu founder Mandisa Monakali said the justice system continued to fail women.
“We are here on the ground within communities, and those in power must work with us to to find solutions.
‘‘Today was also a clear message from the provincial leadership by sending an official when we wanted to address both the premier or mayor,” said Monakali.
Gugulethu resident Gideon Wotetsi, 55, a father,husband and grandfather, said he joined the march as he wanted to cry each time he opened the newspaper.
“Every day another woman and child seems to be killed by someone they know. I am scared for my wife, daughter and granddaughter when they walk out the door.
‘‘Too many tears are being shed in our poor communities,” said Wotetsi.
Palesa Msinda, 75, said the most frightening thing for her was that the perpetrators were often well known by their victims, and it made communities fear their sons, brother and uncles.