WeeklySA_AdminINCIDENCE: Eastern Cape mayor calls on victims to speak out without fear of sending culpable breadwinners to jail…
By Siyabonga Kamnqa
WOMEN need to stop protecting abusive partners and sweeping cases of gender-based violence (GBV) under the carpet, simply because their partners are breadwinners.
This was echoed by speakers during a prayer session to end GBV cases held at the Indoor Sports Centre in the Chris Hani region in Ngcobo town in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, marking the the end of Women’s Month. Speakers decried that, despite countless efforts by the Government to curb gender-based violence, the scourge continued to wreak havoc among South African communities.
Addressing the packed hall, Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality mayor Siyabulela Zangqa called on women in the region to speak out against GBV cases.
He said it was disheartening that cases of GBV were growing, instead of declining, signalling that more work needed to be done to protect women and children “against some male monsters in our communities”.
Firing on all cylinders, Zangqa said it was saddening that even in political and corporate corridors there were managers who took advantage of vulnerable women.
“We need women to be brave and stand up for their rights. Also, we need men to raise hands and say ‘not in our name’”.
Zangqa, who is an Eastern Cape ANC PEC member, said it could not be that – more than three decades after democracy – women and children continued to be victims of GBV.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Nomampondo Siphendu, said, despite rising GBV cases, she was happy that residents were heeding the call to report cases. GBV, she said, had been skyrocketing in recent months. She mentioned a recent incident that sent shockwaves, in which an elderly mother was murdered by her own son.
Said Zangqa: “Our leaders, such as Nelson Mandela, didn’t sacrifice their lives in order for women to continue being abused and murdered daily by people who claim to love them. I am appealing to the clergy gathered here today to pray for our men and leaders. Every village and township needs to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book and that we rid our communities of these evil men,” he said.
