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CRL proposes tougher laws for gender-based violence

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The Commission for Gender Equality has called for the revision and strengthening of laws dealing with perpetrators of gender-based violence. This emerged at the official closing of the Eastern Cape 16 Days of Activism Campaign at Zwartwater in Lady Frere.

In September a mother stabbed a man to death and wounded two others who were gang-raping her 27 year old daughter in this village. She was acquitted by the court.

There are fears in the province as reports of elderly women being attacked and raped are on the increase. The September incident in Zwartwater caused an international uproar and also raised questions about safety of women living in villages. The government took this event to the area in a bid to get closer to them.

The program was in a form of dialogues that focuses on the root causes of the scourge of femicide, rape and violence against women and children.

National Commissioner for the Commission for Gender Equality, Nomsisi Bata says: “The law needs to be revised. The scourge of violence is so high to the extent that people are complaining to us all the time saying why are these people getting caught by the police and released and threatening us? Why are we not looking at strengthening the laws and revising them where it is possible? Why do they get bail so freely and easily? The law is good but needs to be strengthened.”

Nokubonga Qampi, known as the Lion Mama says one of the biggest challenge confronting them is the lack of visible policing.

“I would really love the government to allocate mobile police stations for us here in Zwartwater because they rarely patrol this area. Reports of crime and rape are prevalent in this area and there’s no police station that is nearby. If we could be allocated a police station or a mobile police station crime would drop significantly here.”

Acting Premier, Mlibo Qhoboshiyane says the government will roll out service centres that will assist women in the area.

“These service centres Social Development and the government are talking about are to ensure that we are increasing the network of physical ability of our women so they can also joining other activities in society so that they can cross-populate ideas and I think that is how we can build society.”

The government has urged society to work together to fight the scourge of violence against women and children.

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