Activist Nomasisi Batha has called on government to ensure harsh punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV).
There has been a rise in GBV cases since alert Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown began on June 1.
On Friday, the body of a young woman was found under a tree in Dobsonville, Soweto – the latest in a number of victims.
Tshegofatso Pule, Naledi Phangindawo, Nompumelelo Tshaka and other women in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu- Natal were found murdered this week.
Pule was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.
In Machibi village in Port St Johns, the bodies of two women, aged between 22 and 24 were found in a nearby forest.
Batha says femicide and violence towards South African women are getting out of control.
“Alarming, catastrophic, pandemic proportions. Government must not give perpetrators of GBV and femicide any bail, they must not give them legal aid they don’t deserve it. They must sentence them to life imprisonment without the option of parole. Enough is enough, this must stop, justice must be served for our women and girls,” she says.
Tshegofatso Pule laid to rest
Pule, the 28-year-old who was found hanging from a tree in Roodepoort, on Gauteng’s West Rand and was laid to rest on Thursday. Pule had been stabbed in the chest.
She was eight months pregnant. The expectant mother from Soweto reportedly went to visit her boyfriend in Florida but never returned.
Her death has caused outrage, with many calling for justice. At Pule’s candlelight memorial in Soweto, a few shared their words.
#TshegofatsoPule remember her name. Don’t forget it. She didn’t deserve to die like this. The only thing she did ‘wrong’ in this country was being a woman that’s it. pic.twitter.com/zrTU94iFlV
— Leonise ? (@its_leo96) June 11, 2020
“Thank you for being a friend, sharing your life with me. I will always love you and your unborn angel,” said a friend.
“Well, come forward, say something. We are at a time when we are really tired of men that are just sitting and doing nothing about our situation so we are really tired. As a man, stand up and come fight for the women of SA,” one mourner said.
“We were looking forward to receiving the new member of the family, but it was never meant to be so,” added another mourner.
#TshegofatsoPule Rest Easy Le Unborn Child? pic.twitter.com/3zr9W7ptTR
— Hampton (@Hampton80537599) June 11, 2020
In the video below is the candlelight service for Tshegoftso Pule
South Africans expressed their shock and outrage over the recent murders of Pule and Naledi Phandingwayo who were both murdered last weekend.
How many more women must become a hashtag before we see change? How many more women must die or be scarred for life before they see that this is a real problem?
How many more children must become motherless?Rest in peace Naledi?️ #justiceForNaledi pic.twitter.com/OPtMMUZBb5
— Mbaliyezwe Ndlela (@mbali_ndlela) June 8, 2020
The 25-year-old, Phadingwayo, was murdered in KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape on Saturday after being stabbed to death, allegedly by her partner.
Phadingwayo and Pule are the latest victims in a series of violent acts against women which have gripped the country over the past few months.
I’m hurting ??? I’m in pain…
You didn’t deserve to die oluhlobo. Yini Mamfene ??..I still cannot believe that he killed you. Ubumthanda umyeni wakho but he decided to brutally murder you ?icommunity yase mosselbay yonke ibuhlungu #JusticeforNaledi#GenderBasedViolence pic.twitter.com/odlhnovAmr
— Langalibalele (@Gogo_Langa) June 7, 2020
In the audio below, Southern Cape South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie gives details
Gender-Based Violence comes under the spotlight during lockdown
Many social issues have come under the spotlight as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, and domestic violence is one that continues to impact thousands of South Africans who are confined to their homes.
The spike in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) since the start of the lockdown has sent shockwaves across the country. In the first week alone, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has recorded 2300 complaints of GBV. However, many remain unreported.
The latest statistics are yet to be released.
