KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called for a continuous, year-round response to combat the surge in gender-based violence and femicide across South Africa. He emphasized that the ongoing crisis represents a grave national shame requiring comprehensive societal mobilisation. Ntuli made the remarks while speaking at the Council Against Crime in Durban, highlighting alarming statistics and the need for sustained action.
According to quarterly crime data, KwaZulu-Natal leads the country in domestic violence-related murders and attempted murders. The province's Crime Registrar head, Brigadier Willem du Toit, revealed that in domestic violence-related cases targeting females, female victims accounted for 69% of murders, 61.7% of attempted murders, and 95.5% of rapes. These statistics underscore the severity of the crisis and the need for urgent intervention.
Ntuli introduced the #SilwaNechilo initiative, an action plan structured to combat rising sexual offences and domestic violence in the province. The initiative has five pillars: to protect, educate, mobilise, transform communities, and demand leadership. The plan aims to move the province from occasional awareness campaigns to sustained, society-wide action against GBVF.
The surge in violence against women has been particularly noted in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with multiple victims found murdered, burnt, or shot. Serial rapists have also been identified in KZN, specifically in Durban and Pongola. These incidents have contributed to the growing concern about GBVF in the country.
Nationally, 569 women were murdered in South Africa between April and June this year, approximately six women every single day. In the same period, 9,201 rapes were reported, and over 50,000 cases of GBVF were reported to the police in the last financial year. These numbers demonstrate the scale of the crisis and the need for a comprehensive response.
Du Toit emphasized that policing alone may reduce certain types of crime in the short term, but sustained crime reduction also requires broader social measures. These measures include community policing forums, private security partnerships, urban upgrades, and environmental design, as well as social interventions such as education and youth programmes.
The #SilwaNechilo campaign was built on the fact that violence against women happens daily and an all-year response is needed to combat the scourge. The initiative aims to protect, educate, and mobilise communities to take action against GBVF. KZN's efforts to address GBVF have been identified as crucial in the fight against the crisis.
Key points
- KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli calls for sustained action against GBVF
- KwaZulu-Natal leads the country in domestic violence-related murders and attempted murders
- The #SilwaNechilo initiative aims to combat rising sexual offences and domestic violence in the province
