R1bn to fight gender violence
President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges to lobby for more money in battle against the scourge of rape and killing of women
President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled an “emergency action plan” to stem violence against women and children, including the urgent release of more than R1bn to tackle the scourge.
In a special address before a joint sitting of parliament yesterday, Ramaphosa said government was collaborating with multiple sectors of society on the emergency action plan on violence against women and children to be fully implemented in the next six months. Ramaphosa said it was time for the country to close ranks on the raping and killing of young girls and women by men. The president said in terms of his emergency action plan, five new intervention areas would be introduced by all law enforcement authorities, including parliament, the South African Police Service, judges and magistrates.
Among others, these would include new measures to prevent violence against women, beefing up the entire criminal justice system, steps to enhance the legal and policy framework targeted at sexual offences and other forms of gender-based violence, and measures to improve the economic power of women. Cabinet, Ramaphosa announced yesterday, decided to make R1.1bn to be immediately set aside from the current budget towards the implementation of the emergency action plan.
Gender activist from Wise Collective, Brenda Madumise, lauded the plan and the six-month deadline. She said that they would keep a close eye on how the allocated R1.1bn will be spent.
“It’s an emergency plan in a sense that we can’t wait for another financial year for resources to be allocated. So the R1.1bn that must be available immediately when Tito [Mboweni, finance minister] announces his mid-term budget in October,” said Madumise. “Our role is to make sure that when that money is made available, it is utilised for the plan that we have all agreed on. So, we don’t wake [up] with the department of justice thinking that it can move that money to somewhere else.” Ramaphosa told MPs from the two houses of parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, that he wanted them to prioritise amendments to various pieces of laws to ensure strict and harsher sentences for perpetrators of violence against women and children.
He reiterated his call for those convicted of killing and raping women to no longer be considered for parole.
“This emergency action plan will be driven by an interim steering committee located in the presidency and co-chaired by government and civil society organisations,” he said.
The president said the job of the steering committee would be to “co-ordinate” a rapid response at national level.
“In this way, problems at places like police stations and courts and challenges such as the availability of rape kits and delays in DNA testing can be channelled to the relevant authorities very quickly.” Describing the scourge of gender-based violence as “not a problem of women” but “a problem of men”, Ramaphosa said government would also be introducing a mass media campaign targeting young men to change how they related to females.
Ramaphosa said the campaign would be extended to law enforcement officers such as the police and judicial officers. “The focus will be on men’s groups and formations, the youth at risk and offenders inside prisons as well. This will be merged with prevention and education in schools.
“Women’s rights and gender power relations will be part of life orientation in the school curriculum. As part of this campaign we’re going to provide gender sensitivity training to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, magistrates, policy makers and ensure that those who are found in breach of their responsibilities in this regard are held to account.” Turning to the recent violent attacks against foreign nationals, Ramaphosa said the country needed to embrace “African integration”.