Launch of 16 Days of Activism Against the abuse of Women and Children
27 November 2021The Mpumalanga Provincial Government has lamented the withdrawal of cases by the victims of abuse as one of the reasons that perpetuate the scourge. This as Mpumalanga launched the 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children. The campaign was launched in Karinet, in Emalahleni Municipality on Friday. The area is located in the vicinity of the Vosman Police Station, cited among the thirty (30) stations in the province which recorded a high prevalent of cases.
The Provincial Government expressed a grave concern about the rising number of cases against women and children, recorded between April to September 2021 in Mpumalanga. Of the four thousand one hundred and fourty eight (4148) cases, 84 were for murder, 716 were for rape, 72 were for sexual assault, 25 were for attempted rape, 1302 were for assault and 1862 were for common assault.
MEC for Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Ntshalintshali addressed the function on behalf of the Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane. Ntshalintshali urged the leadership of police in the province to increase the number of units that protect children against violence. “I kindly urge you to expedite the issue of increasing the number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units across all police stations in the province, especially in problematic areas such as Kabokweni, Pienaar, Embalenhle, Emalahleni and KwaMhlanga,” she said.
She cited access to the courts by women in rural areas and an increase in the rate of prosecution, as one of the solutions to stop gender based violence. “We will request the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to increase the number of sexual offences courts in rural areas, as one of the measures to increase the rate of conviction and ensure harsher sentences against the perpetrators,” she said.
Ntshalintshali said the withdrawal of cases by the victims in the police stations negate the fight against gender based violence and should be discouraged.
ENDS…
Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Enquiries:
DCSSL Spokesperson: Moeti Mmusi
Tel: (013) 766 1577
Mobile: 079 291 0664
E-mail: mmmusi@mpg.gov.za
(A) Provincial Government’s Spokesperson:George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za