The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on Parliament to urgently debate the issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) following a spate of killings in Ekurhuleni. Member of Parliament Lisa Schickerling said she has written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza requesting a debate of national importance. The request comes after nine women were found murdered in Ekurhuleni since July, sparking widespread concern and outrage.
Schickerling said Parliament must hold those responsible for protecting women and children to account. She noted that despite annual debates on the matter, the ongoing threat of violence against women demands urgent action from the government. The DA is pushing for Parliament to take a more proactive role in addressing the GBVF crisis, which has been a persistent problem in South Africa.
The issue of GBVF has been on the national agenda for several years, with President Cyril Ramaphosa summoning a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to focus on the crisis in 2019. Three new pieces of legislation were tabled in 2020 in response to the GBVF crisis, but Schickerling said more needs to be done to protect women and bring perpetrators to justice.
The killings in Ekurhuleni have once again highlighted the urgent need for action on GBVF. The discovery of nine murdered women since July has sparked widespread outrage and concern, with many calling for greater action from the government to address the issue. The DA is urging Parliament to take a more proactive role in addressing the crisis.
Schickerling said there can be no greater priority for Parliament than to address the escalating GBVF crisis. She noted that despite the calls for the establishment of a multi-disciplinary team, and civil society's intensified focus on the unfolding crisis, too many cases remain unresolved. The DA is pushing for a more coordinated approach to addressing GBVF.
The GBVF crisis has been a persistent problem in South Africa, with many women and children affected by violence and abuse. The issue has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for greater action from the government to address the issue. The DA's call for a parliamentary debate on GBVF is part of a broader push for greater action on the issue.
The police have made some progress in investigating the Ekurhuleni murders, with three people arrested in connection with the killing of the ninth victim. However, Schickerling said that more needs to be done to address the root causes of GBVF and to bring perpetrators to justice. The DA's call for a parliamentary debate on GBVF is part of a broader push for greater action on the issue.
Key points
- The Democratic Alliance is calling on Parliament to urgently debate the issue of gender-based violence and femicide following a spate of killings in Ekurhuleni.
- Nine women have been found murdered in Ekurhuleni since July, sparking widespread concern and outrage.
- The DA is pushing for Parliament to take a more proactive role in addressing the GBVF crisis, which has been a persistent problem in South Africa.
