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An image for GBV awareness
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) dominated Wednesday’s oral question session of the Peace and Security Cluster, as MPs pressed ministers on government’s response to the country’s worsening GBV crisis.
MPs raised concerns about the protection of victims, delays in justice processes, and allegations that police are failing to respond timeously when women seek help.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach questioned the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi on government’s commitments in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, asking whether the promises made through the National Strategic Plan are translating into real protection on the ground.
Kubayi responded, “In the previous financial year, 19 sexual offences courts were established, and in this financial year 16 court are being established. We are officially opening one tomorrow at Botshabelo in Free State, and these are important as they help victims to be able to testify appropriately and have environment that is appropriate and victim/survivor approach. 40 courts are being upgraded this financial year.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Rebecca Mohlale raised concerns about the safety of victims whose protection orders are not being enforced.
She warned that failures by law-enforcement officials are leaving survivors exposed and at risk, despite having court-issued protection.
Kubayi says: “As part of responding we have now made it possible for a protection order to be issued online. There are various mechanisms that we can say that we need to do. And understand the context that one woman raped is one too many, one child violated is one too many. So, we can talk stats, but for as long as there is a woman who is raped, there’s child who is violated that’s too many. We need to create an environment where we protect their women and children.”
From the African National Congress (ANC), Julian Mokoena pressed the Police Ministry on how officers are handling GBV cases, saying survivors continue to report poor treatment, secondary trauma, and lack of urgency in dealing with reported abuse cases.
Deputy Minister, Dr Shela Boshiego, answered on behalf of the minister.
“The GBVF issue is not an issue of police only. It’s a whole society issue. Sometimes as police, unfortunately we come after the act has happened so as the community, we should be able to work together. We have started, like Thohoyandou is number 1 in rape cases, I have gone there, started working with traditional leaders, churches, everybody to make sure all of us take responsibility.”
The ministers have defended their departments’ efforts, but MPs insist more must be done to speed up justice, strengthen policing, and ensure that women seeking help are never turned away. – Reporting by Mkhokheli Bandla
