President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised the families of victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) that their cases will not "go cold". On Tuesday night, the president outlined a multi-disciplinary national strategy to address the growing scourge of GBVF. The strategy aims to bring together the state's available capabilities to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
Ramaphosa confirmed that police have identified persons of interest and collected forensic material, clothing, and cellphone records. However, he stated that police have not found evidence establishing that these killings were committed by a single perpetrator. The president made a commitment to the families who have lost loved ones to gender-based violence, assuring them that the state will work to uncover the truth.
Part of Ramaphosa's commitment was an appeal to members of the public to report cases to the police. He noted that only two of the women found dead in Ekurhuleni were reported missing. The president emphasized that there is no requirement to wait 24 hours before reporting a person missing, urging people to report immediately if they have reason to fear something is wrong.
In his address, Ramaphosa admitted that the government has not done enough to fight GBVF. He believes that the country cannot police its way out of GBV alone, but rather must work to prevent the violence before it happens. The president outlined a four-point plan to tackle GBV, which includes allocating more resources to fight the scourge.
Ramaphosa's address comes amid growing concern over the high levels of GBV in South Africa. The issue has been a major talking point in the country, with many calling for greater action to be taken to address the problem. The president's commitment to tackling GBV has been welcomed by many, who hope that it will lead to tangible results.
The national strategy outlined by Ramaphosa will involve a multi-disciplinary approach, bringing together various government departments and agencies to tackle GBV. The president has committed to allocating more resources to fight GBV, including funding for support services for victims and increased capacity for law enforcement agencies.
The issue of GBV is a complex one, and Ramaphosa's strategy will require a sustained effort to achieve results. However, the president's commitment to tackling the problem has been welcomed, and many will be watching to see if it leads to a reduction in GBV cases.
Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa outlines national strategy to address growing scourge of gender-based violence and femicide
- Ramaphosa confirms police have identified persons of interest and collected forensic material
- President appeals to public to report GBV cases to police immediately
