THE time for speeches is over when it comes to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.

Those were the strong words from protesters who took to the streets of Durban on Wednesday (September 30), demanding urgent action to combat the scourge.

The march, led by civic organisation March and March, drew a large crowd, including representatives of political parties, who joined the call for action and declared that “enough is enough”.

Carrying placards and singing struggle songs, protesters marched from Albert Park to Point Police Station, where a memorandum of demands was handed over.

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March and March leader Lindani Xulu called on government to act on GBVF and strengthen law enforcement, including through increased police visibility and CCTV cameras in communities.

“The time for speeches is over, it’s time for action. We are calling on more police visibility and CCTV on our streets. This will aid in the fight against GBVF and make communities safer all.”

His call was echoed by Precious Khumalo.

“Women in South Africa are not safe. We much every year pleading for our safety and our lives, yet nothing changes. We are here today to let our leaders know that enough is enough.”

The march came a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on GBVF and announced a series of immediate measures aimed at strengthening the state’s response to violence against women and children.

Ramaphosa said the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide had approved a comprehensive emergency response, while announcing measures including a national case-recovery operation for unresolved cases involving women and children, a plan to reduce forensic backlogs and women’s safety audits by municipalities.

“We cannot police our way out of gender-based violence alone. We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis alone. And we cannot wait until a woman is murdered before the state intervenes,” said Ramaphosa.

“Our task must be to prevent the violence before it happens. As all of government, we are determined that attention and resources be directed at all parts of the country where women are under siege from gender-based violence.”

Ramaphosa also said the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is now operational and responsible for coordinating and driving the national response. He said resources had been allocated to strengthen the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, while Sexual Offences Courts are being expanded.

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