Bonani Andisa

What do you think of the gender-based violence summit recently announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa? Will it work and if not, what should be done to fight gender-based violence? The Rep reporter

took to the streets of Komani to find out.

I think it is relevant for President Cyril Ramaphosa to have initiated the summit. The responsibility of making sure that women are protected should rest on the government, with awareness campaigns to teach men how to treat women. Women should be respected and given freedom to exercise their rights.

All these talk shops are a waste of time while women and children are abused and no form of punishment is meted out to the abuser. The death sentence should return because perpetrators are arrested and released on bail, only to commit the same crime again.

It is a good idea that the president decided on the summit. Men should stop being violent against women. We witness abuse against women and children everywhere and we need to have active ways to combat it.

I do not think perpetrators watch television to listen to the president talk about gender-based violence, so that message did not reach the intended audience. Women need to stand up for themselves and encourage each other to speak out. Most abusers are protected by their victims who are scared to be vocal.

The summit was a good initiative. It will potentially lead to new solutions on how to fight the violence and abuse against women and children. Women are at risk in everything and their rights are continuously violated.