Speaker of the eMalahleni Local Municipality Cllr Busi Hlumbane led a protest outside Witbank Magistrate’s Court last week.

The protest on Thursday, June 25 came after the widespread abuse and killings of women and children by men.

Cllr Hlumbane said the programme by the ANC Women’s League Nkangala Region is to show and voice out their anger and to say no to rapes and killings of women and children.

“Men are supposed to protect and love us, but some are killing and abusing us. We are not properties to anyone and we are supposed to wear what we want and feel free to live. If one provides for me, it does not mean they own me. We are now saying enough is enough.”

Cllr Hlumbane went to say they will invite other organisations and church groups to join them in the programme. She is also inviting men to support them in the programme and to show that no women will be killed in their names.

“We are going to protest every Thursday until justice is done against perpetrators of gender-based violence and harsher sentences are passed. The #Black Lives Matters protest should go hand in hand with gender-based violence protests to show that women and children need to be protected,” added Cllr Hlumbane.

*Three arrests have been reported in Mpumalanga after cases of rapes over a two day period. SAPS Provincial spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi reported that on Monday, June 22 a 35-year-old man from Kabokweni outside White River was arrested for allegedly raping his 20-month-old daughter. A 36-year-old man was also arrested for allegedly raping his 13-year-old stepdaughter in Schoemansdal outside Malelane.

A 35-year-old Bushbuckridge man was also arrested on a statutory rape charge of a 13-year-old girl who was apparently in a relationship with her since March this year.