‘GBVF a critical challenge facing South African society’

Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remain a critical challenge that faces our society and, various departments have committed to tackling the scourge of GBVF. These were some of the sentiments expressed by stakeholders during a virtual engagement with the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus in Parliament.

The engagement took stock of the commitments that were made by various departments and civil society organisations last year to tackle GBVF.

Departments and various organisations gave feedback on the implementation of some of the Pillars on the National Strategic Plan to tackle GBVF.

The first Pillar relates to accountability, coordination and leadership. The Director-General of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mikateko Maluleke read a statement on behalf of Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

She also touched on the recent brutal murder of a young final-year Fort Hare law student, Nosicelo Mtebeni.

“This past Monday, I visited the family of Nosicelo Mtebeni, who was brutally murdered at the University of Fort Hare. This is one young woman, who sadly paid the final sacrifice and became another statistic of femicide.

“Behind the high GBVF statistics are young women, children, mothers, sisters, grandmothers and the LGBTQI persons, who have every right to be safe to live and realise their full human potential,” Minister Nkoana-Mashabane explains.

Government’s call to gender-based violence and femicide: Maite Nkoana-Mashabane:

Programmes to tackle GBV

The Communications and Digital Technologies Department says it has implemented various programmes, to tackle gender-based violence.

Deputy Director-General for Governance Thulisile Manzini says: “As a department, we have implemented programmes with regard to GBV. There is also a need to expand these programmes to include matters of domestic violence and in this regard, we may need to review the financial resources available to do so.

And it’s something we have an opportunity for now as we are also busy with our APP to make sure that this is incorporated especially the financial part. And the implementing entities in the portfolio can play a role in assisting us to raise awareness on the existence of the Bill amongst citizens.”

LISTICLE: GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO ERADICATE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Charlotte Pilane-Majeke says the Department is committed to implementing its national strategic plan to tackle Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

“Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Continue to be a debilitating factor in terms of upliftment of the status of women in South Africa including sexual harassment. The Message from the Minister is that the Department of Public Service and Administration continues to be committed to our mandate in terms of the national strategic plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide that have been put in place. We are responsible for three Pillars. Currently, we are just putting the focus on Pillar number one which is accountability, coordination and leadership.”

‘Power to unify’

Minister Nathi Mthethwa says culture and heritage have the power to unify the country. Launching Heritage Month 2021 at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mthethwa has appealed to men to join the movement against violence perpetrated on women and children.

“It is particularly important that we reflect on the enduring virulence of patriarchy and some of its cultural tropes that continue to be employed in subjugating women and girl children to second-tier status. Often this leads to physical harm including femicide. In particular, we wish to make a special appeal to men to join this movement against GBV and femicide by being good role models to boy children.” -Additional reporting by Pearl Magubane

Below is SABC News GBV Focus videos: