Youth must stop scourge

THE YOUTH of South Africa need to play an active role in fighting against the alarming scourge of gender-based violence and femicide.

National Commissioner of the SAPS General Khehla Sitole led a panel of officials from various youth entities at the Youth Crime Prevention Dialogue on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) on Sunday.

Sitole said the societal problem of GBVF continued to be a profound and widespread problem affecting almost every aspect of life.

“Women and children can be survivors of violence in their own homes, at school, in the streets, in the community or even in the presence of those who are meant to protect them,” he said.

The national commissioner said the dialogue was aimed at enhancing the police response to address issues in terms of their capacity to combat the scourge of GBVF and to also mobilise young people to stand up against GBVF.

“Many women and children continue to suffer on a daily basis and there has been exponential rise in cases of abuse and rape, despite the government’s efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system and to provide care to the survivors of GBVF,” Sitole said.

According to the most recent crime statistics, sexual offences and rape cases are on the rise having recorded a never-seen-before double digit increase.

“The above phenomenon calls for a collaborative effort through crime dialogues of this nature to come together and engage to find a lasting solution to the scourge of GBVF,” the general said.