The ANC Women's League has called for a national debate on the death penalty amid a recent spate of killings of women in South Africa, including the discovery of 12 women found dead in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The league's spokeswoman, Boitumelo Moiloa, said the country should not shy away from discussing the death penalty as a possible solution to the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide. The killings have renewed concerns over the safety of women in South Africa.
The ANC Women's League held a prayer and memorial service for victims of gender-based violence in Alberton on Sunday, attended by faith-based organisations and churches. Moiloa said the service was a call to action, highlighting the need for a collective effort to address the crisis. She emphasised that working in silos would not help solve the problem, and that churches and communities should play a greater role in addressing gender-based violence.
Moiloa said churches, with their regular contact with large congregations, could help communities identify and address the problem of gender-based violence. She proposed that churches and communities should work together to create safe spaces for women and children, and to provide support to victims of violence. The league has also marched to the Union Buildings and Treasury to demand action and funding to address the crisis.
The ANC Women's League has faced questions about its role in combating gender-based violence, particularly given its links to the governing ANC. Moiloa defended the league's role, saying it had consistently taken action and called on government to do more to address the crisis. She pointed to the league's efforts to raise awareness and push for policy changes, including a march to Treasury to demand funding.
Moiloa said preventing gender-based violence also required greater attention to boys and young men, whom she said society had neglected. She argued that society had invested considerable attention in empowering girls while failing to provide similar support for boys. Moiloa proposed creating spaces where men could speak openly about challenges in their relationships and homes, with male social workers available to provide support.
Moiloa called on families, including uncles and other male relatives, to play a greater role in mentoring boys, particularly where fathers are absent. She said previous programmes involving boys had revealed that some young people turned to drugs because they longed for relationships with their fathers. Moiloa called on the government to fund such programmes and ensure they become part of efforts to prevent gender-based violence.
The issue of the death penalty has sparked debate, with reports suggesting that ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane may have raised the possibility of bringing it back. Moiloa said the issue should form part of a national discussion, but acknowledged that the death penalty was not necessarily the ultimate solution. She argued that legal experts and society should consider all possible measures to address the killings.
Key points
- The ANC Women's League is calling for a national debate on the death penalty as a possible solution to the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
- The league's spokeswoman, Boitumelo Moiloa, emphasised the need for a collective effort to address the crisis, including the involvement of churches and communities.
- Moiloa also highlighted the need for greater attention to boys and young men, and for families to play a greater role in mentoring boys, particularly where fathers are absent.
