We will stop political killings, says Ramaphosa

Addressing a capacity crowd at the launch of the ANC’s new manifesto at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa confronted the political killings that have rocked the province.

According to the president, the number of political killings has decreased, and he promised that his party will “stem the tide” of these killings, “particularly here in KwaZulu-Natal”.

Attempts on the part of law enforcement to hold those who commit political killings accountable are working, according to the president. “A number of suspects have been arrested and are now being prosecuted,” he said.

This was not the form of crime that the president devoted most time to in his speech, however. He discussed gender-based violence at length, and asked all men in the stadium to stand, say “thuma mina (send me)”, and commit to making this form of violence “history”.

“More and better skilled police and prosecution authorities are needed to improve the capacity to investigate and prosecute all crimes, especially gender based violence and sexual assault,” he said.

Ramaphosa called gender-based violence a “national crises” and said that the ANC is determined to “end” it so that women in the country can live in “peace, safety and dignity”.

He said that all South Africans must work together to end gender-based violence “and the patriarchal practices that give rise to it”.

The speech also addressed other issues, including land, South Africa’s international relations, our civil servants, our economy, illegal businesses in townships and our country’s borders.