A candlelight memorial service will be held today in memory of the eight femicide victims whose bodies were found dumped in open fields around Sicelo township in Meyerton, Vereeniging in Gauteng.
The femicide incidents happened in 2017 and 2021.
The candlelight service will be led by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko together with the victims’ families at the Sicelo Community Hall.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the MEC will also use the service to call for continued collaborative efforts to intensify the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in communities.
“This year marks the 25-year anniversary since South Africa initiated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, and it is observed under the theme Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide, leaving no one behind, which basically recognises the need to double up efforts that have been taken to ensure that we fight the scourge in our communities.”
Meanwhile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile says that gender-based violence and femicide have reached a tipping point in the country.
He says that President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed a domestic violence bill, to curb the scourge of violence against women and children.
Recently, the National Assembly finally passed the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill which makes provision for a National Council that will consist of a board of no more than 13 members to manage an approach to GBV and femicide.
Research Specialist on GBV, Lisa Vetten, provides more details of the bill in the video below:
