Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane calls for swift justice to be served as the killing of women and girls continues unabated.

This comes after the Minister learnt with shock and sadness this week of the death of 34-year-old Tankiso Tawanyana of Kimberley, Northern Cape, who was raped by three men who doused her with paraffin before setting her alight on Friday, 7 October. Tawanyana later succumbed to her injuries on Saturday, 8 October 2022.

On Sunday, 9 October police were called to Johannesburg central after complaints of a foul smell coming from a warehouse where the bodies of 6 women were found.

“The past few days have been a tragic reminder that the pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continues to rob women of their basic human right to life and dignity.”

The Minister said that women, children and young girls in South Africa are not safe. Stating that GBVF reflects our society that is broken and fragmented. The pervasiveness of GBVF in society is also due to a number of factors including patriarchy, strict reinforcement of gender roles and hierarchy, economic exclusion of women, socio-economic inequality, cultural and religious norms, and toxic masculinity.

Above all, it is violence by men enacted on the bodies of women and girls that is fueling this pandemic.

“We plead with SAPS to continue to search for the perpetrators and bring those responsible to book. Tankiso Tawanyana and the six women found must have justice served.”

“The law must take its course, but in cases of this nature the Justice System must show no mercy when sentencing these perpetrators. These perpetrators must receive harsh punishment for their crimes, as there is no place in society for them,” concluded Minister Nkoana-Mashabane.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane also wished to send her condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Source: Government of South Africa