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Violence against women continues to ruin South Africa’s future, with a disgusting 9 516 rape cases opened at the South African Police Services (SAPS) between April and June 2022.
According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, out of this figure, 3 780 rapes took place in the homes of the rapists or homes of the victims. 1 546 people were raped in public places such as streets, parks and beaches.

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Public transportation such as buses, taxis and trains are, according to Cele, the third most likely place to be raped.
Adding to this, from April to June, there were also 216 Contact Sexual Offences, 416 Attempted Sexual Offences and 1 707 Sexual Assaults reported to the SAPS.
With sexual crimes being a major issue in South Africa, with domestic violence contributing to women living in fear, the Amajuba District Municipality has shown that it refused to remain silent on the obstacles that women face within society.
On Wednesday, 24 August 2022, in remembrance of the estimated 20 000 women who marched to the union buildings in August 1956, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Cllr Vuselwa Bam re-enacted the march as she gathered with women from around the district and led a progressive and impactful march against Gender-Based Violence.
Eagerness filled the atmosphere as women, dressed in black, gathered at the Madadeni Shoprite shopping centre to voice their stance on abuse, rape and the murder of women and children.
As a result, the march proceeded with women chanting songs with messages against GBV crimes as they made their way to Madadeni Police Station. “Today, the 24th of August 2022, we gather heeding a call of a different kind. Women and children are confronted with a different kind of injustice and abuse in the form of Gender-based violence,” said Cllr Bam.
Furthermore, the group was also joined by the leadership from local municipalities such as the Newcastle Municipality’s Mayor, Cllr Xolani Dube, together with Amajuba District, the Speaker Cllr S.O Zulu, Whip of Council, Cllr A.T Nkosi and Cllr L. Mthembu.
Other participants in the march included non-governmental organisations, businesses, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, political parties and various sectors, including the SAPS, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, and communities.
Addressing the participants, Cllr Dube said, “It is very important that us as males do not lose our position in society, we have the responsibilities of taking care of our families, our women, and children. It is a disgrace that men are perpetrators of such violent crimes, we are here today to join women and say no to gender-based violence.”
Adding to this, Cllr Bam emphasised, “It is a sad reality that gender-based violence is destroying individuals, family structures and communities.
According to the Amajuba District Municipality, South Africa has one of the most progressive Constitutions in the world, in which all citizens are protected and entitled to necessities as well as having freedom of movement, expression, religion or sexual orientation.
With this in mind, the District Municipality highlighted it was therefore unfortunate that it was in this same country, that the rights of women and children were violated. It is also in this instance that the Amajuba District Municipality wanted to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a Human Rights issue.
“Although acts of violence against women occur across all socioeconomic, racial, and cultural divides, poverty is an important factor in gender equality. Financial dependence, as well as a lack of access to education and resources often trap women in violent and oppressive relationships. We need to move attention to the underlying problems and find solutions,” said Cllr Bam.
She further pointed out that the march was an effort to raise awareness on gender-based related violence amongst many and the negative impact violence has on women and children in Amajuba District.
“Domestic violence against women and children is one of the most brutal consequences of the socio-economic, social, political, and cultural inequalities that exist between sexes. The incidents of violence perpetrated against women and children and the youth remain unacceptably high in our country and most importantly in Amajuba District. We use this campaign as one of our strategies for eliminating violence against women and children as statistics indicate that every six hours a woman is killed by her partner. Children are raped and killed by people we know; it is frightening that the criminals are people who live in our midst and in our communities,” she stated.
Moreover, when people know that someone is being abused in their own home or in a neighbour’s house, Cllr Bam said people have a duty to report it.
“We also have a duty to stand in court as witnesses to make sure that these abusers are prosecuted successfully,” she stressed.
Determined to make a difference in the lives of victims of GBV, Cllr Bam pointed out that the Amajuba District Municipality has dedicated structures within the Community Services Directorate, such as the Special Programmes Unit that has been mandated to promote, facilitate, coordinate and monitor the awareness of the rights of women, children, and vulnerable persons.
“My message to all our people is that public safety is everybody’s business. All institutions, community groups and citizens need to contribute to the development of safe and secure communities for all our people,” she said.
While there are programmes and interventions to prevent and respond to the abuse, Cllr Bam pointed out that the government could not do this alone. Therefore depended on mutual partnerships with non-governmental organisations, businesses, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, political parties and various sectors including but not limited to the SAPS, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, and communities.
“To all these departments and stakeholders, I humbly request that we take it upon ourselves to ensure the safety of women and children remains a priority of Amajuba District,” she concluded.
Photo credit: Amajuba District Municipality
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