Letter: Am I next?

Ward 22 Cllr Privi Makhan writes:

This week, we have wept as a nation at the atrocities inflicted upon our women and children.

The news headlines have carried details of brutal rapes and murders of young women and children, who all fell victim to this plague we call femicide.

The alarming statistics released by Stats SA, indicate a murder rate for women increasing by 117% in the last three years, an increase in sexual offences from 31 665 in 2015/2016 to 70 813 in 2016/2017.

While the statistics are no doubt frightening, the reality is that a large number of incidents go unreported.

All the summits, debates and committees to address this plague, should not detract from the fact that in the absence of these initiatives being translated into effective implementation to address what is clearly a crisis, we will continue as a nation to fail the most vulnerable members of our society.

Femicide and gender-based violence are hate crimes, a national crisis that continues to spiral out of control.

It is the responsibility of government to dedicate adequate resources to fighting the scourge of femicide.

It is also the collective responsibility of society take a stand against the heinous crimes being inflicted upon our women and children.

History will thank you for this.

#AmINext