Calls for arrest of GBV perpetrators as cases soar
South Africa continues to experience a high prevalence of GBVF since the country entered lockdown level 3.
Calls for stricter policing of gender-based violence-related crimes have spiked after the murder of an Eersterust woman this week.
The minister of women, youth and persons with disabilities called for the swift arrest of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) perpetrators and protection of women and children after the body of 42-year-old Evelyn de Kock was found outside a room in the early hours of Sunday.
Gauteng police arrested a 50-year-old man in Eldorado Park on Monday, in connection with De Kock’s murder after a team of detectives, crime prevention and Tshwane district task team members followed information to where the suspect was hiding, said police.
South Africa continued to experience a high prevalence of GBVF since the country entered lockdown level 3.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said: “Women and girls are being abused, assaulted and murdered in our country every day, at the hands of men. This onslaught manifests in homes, workplaces, neighbourhoods regardless of the class, race or geographic location of perpetrators, survivors or victims.”
READ MORE: Eersterust woman stabbed to death
Nkoana-Mashabane said the clear message on the streets of the nation was the call for an end to all forms of violence against women and children, an end to impunity for perpetrators of GBVF, for public and private spaces to be made safe for women and children and for adequate resourcing of the psychosocial and other needs of survivors, provided by both government and civil society.
“We are in deep crisis as a country and that must be brought to a decisive end. As government, we recognise and acknowledge that we cannot do this alone. This is a societal problem that needs all of us to rally all our efforts and resources collectively and confront this enemy head-on,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.
Tshwane head administrator Mpho Nawa also came out to condemn the killing of De Kock.
“She is believed to have allegedly been murdered by her boyfriend,” said Nawa.
He called on law enforcement authorities to curb the rising tide of femicide in the country.
“Instead of us celebrating the heroics of the youth of 1976, we are sitting here mourning the deaths of women at the hands of men who are supposed to be their lovers and protectors.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the death of Evelyn de Kock, a resident of this beautiful capital city and the deaths of other women at the hands of their spouses and partners across the country,” Nawa said, calling on men, civil society and NGOs to join hands in intensifying the fight against gender-based violence.
READ MORE: SANDF launches a gender-based violence investigation against alleged member
He also urged the police to detect and prevent the killing of women.
“The killing of De Kock should not be in vain. We should use it as a rallying call to eradicate toxic masculinity in society and change the mindset of men who think violence is the solution to the myriad problems the country is grappling with.
“The culprit should face the full might of the law and serve as a deterrent to would-be killers,” Nawa said.
He urged women to read the signs, follow their intuition and quickly get out of toxic relationships before it was too late and appealed to men to call out their fellow brethren who abused women and children.
“As the city of Tshwane, we will support all efforts aimed at putting a stop to gender-based violence and express our heartfelt condolences to the De Kock family as they mourn the loss of their beloved daughter,” Nawa said.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela applauded the team for their prompt response in the matter.
“We are appealing to people with information before a crime is committed or when a crime is in progress.to call the SAPS emergency number 10111 or send a tip-off via MySAPSApp which can be downloaded on any android or iPhone.”
Police also offered important contact details for GBVF crimes:
– GBV command centre 0800 428 428
– Childline toll-free 0800 055 555
– Human trafficking hotline 0800 222 777
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