WOMEN'S SUPPORT NETWORK STATEMENT ON THE MURDERS OF WOMEN IN GAUTENG AND SOUTH AFRICA'S RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE

The horrifying discovery of the bodies of women in and around Kempton Park has once again shaken our nation. While SAPS is still investigating whether these murders are linked, the circumstances have raised serious concern and a specialised multidisciplinary task team has been established.

Our thoughts and prayers are with every family mourning a daughter, mother, sister, wife or friend.

BUT TODAY, WE WANT TO ASK A QUESTION THAT MANY SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN ARE ASKING:

HOW MANY MORE TIMES MUST WE SAY “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” BEFORE ENOUGH ACTUALLY BECOMES ENOUGH?

WE REMEMBER IN AUGUST… AND THEN WHAT?

Every August we celebrate Women's Month.

We stand proudly on street corners holding placards.

We attend marches.

We make passionate speeches about protecting women and ending gender-based violence.

Then August ends.

A few months later we enter the 16 Days of Activism. Once again there are placards, campaigns, photographs and promises.

And then those too disappear.

Meanwhile, women do not stop being abused because Women's Month has ended.

Rapists do not take a holiday after 16 Days of Activism.

Murderers do not wait for the next awareness campaign.

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS NOT A SEASONAL CAMPAIGN.

IT IS A NATIONAL CRISIS THAT WOMEN LIVE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR.

SOUTH AFRICA ALREADY HAS A PLAN

In 2020, Cabinet adopted the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide 2020–2030. It was created as South Africa's roadmap for a coordinated response to this crisis and includes six strategic pillars, among them Accountability, Coordination and Leadership, and Justice, Safety and Protection.

That means the question is no longer whether South Africa knows what needs to be done.

WE DO.

The question is whether we are implementing it with the urgency, competence and accountability that women's lives demand.

WOMEN DESERVE MORE THAN PROMISES

A woman reporting rape, assault or domestic violence should walk into a police station knowing she will be treated with dignity, compassion and professionalism.

She should not have to fear being dismissed.

She should not have to repeat her trauma unnecessarily.

She should not leave feeling humiliated instead of protected.

Government itself has acknowledged shortcomings in the implementation of requirements relating to domestic violence at some police stations.

THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT WAIT

The Madlanga Commission has brought deeply troubling allegations and evidence concerning criminality, political interference and corruption within parts of the criminal-justice system into the national spotlight.

Those processes must be allowed to run their course — but South Africans are entitled to demand that accountability follows wherever wrongdoing is established.

We cannot build public trust in policing while ignoring failures that undermine justice.

INTEGRITY MATTERS.

TRAINING MATTERS.

COMPETENCE MATTERS.

ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS.

MY PLEA TO EVERY SOUTH AFRICAN

Please do not wait until violence touches your own family before you care.

Every murdered woman belonged to somebody.

She was somebody's child.

Somebody's mother.

Somebody's sister.

Somebody's best friend.

Her life mattered before her name became a headline.

LET US STOP TREATING OUTRAGE AS AN ANNUAL EVENT.

Let us stop believing that holding a placard once a year is the same thing as creating lasting change.

Let us demand implementation of the plans already adopted, properly trained police officers, effective investigations, survivor-centred services, functioning forensic systems and a criminal-justice system worthy of the women it is supposed to protect.

OUR CALL

The Women's Support Network stands with the families of every victim.

We condemn the brutal murder and sexual violence inflicted upon women.

We support the ongoing investigations and urge law enforcement to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

But we also call upon government to move beyond promises and campaigns.

WOMEN'S LIVES CANNOT BE PROTECTED BY SLOGANS.

THEY ARE PROTECTED BY ACTION.

ENOUGH SPEECHES.

ENOUGH FORGOTTEN PROMISES.

ENOUGH SEASONAL ACTIVISM.

IT IS TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

IT IS TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT IS TIME FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S WOMEN TO BE SAFE.

NOT ONLY IN AUGUST.

NOT ONLY DURING 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM.

BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR.

WOMEN'S SUPPORT NETWORK Because every woman deserves safety, dignity and justice.