killings
2 November 2007
The Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) is horrified at newspaper reports of
the abuse and murder of 10 women, whose bodies were found in the sugar cane
plantations at Shayamoya Township near Umzinto, on the KwaZulu-Natal South
Coast. It appears that these women were aged between 18 and 35 years, and were
clearly lured by false promises of employment. They were sexually abused and
brutally slain by means of strangulation. Residents of Shayamoya believe that
the murders were the work of a serial killer. Many of these women were single
parents and breadwinners to minor children, some of whom have been orphaned as
a result.
The CGE has proposed an intervention strategy which includes developing an
advocacy campaign to deal with violence against women in KwaZulu-Natal. The CGE
will monitor the criminal proceedings of the case, with the first hearing
scheduled for 9 November at the Umzinto Magistrate's Court. The CGE intends to
conduct a short monitoring survey with South African Police Service (SAPS) and
the Department of Justice, due to the noted increase in sexual offences in the
province. The CGE is engaging with faith-based organisations and provincial
gender machinery structures to plan for an inter-faith prayer session and peace
walk, to be held in Shayamoya on 10 November, in which violence against women
will be the primary prayer focus. The CGE is seeking to engage with victims'
families, by visiting them to pledge our solidarity and support, and to ensure
that they receive appropriate counselling.
The CGE is also in the process of approaching the KwaZulu-Natal provincial
government at the highest levels within the executive and legislature. The
purpose of this approach is to lead a discussion on gender based violence and
related issues, so that we can jointly identify what action is required of the
various stakeholders within the provincial government and civil society.
The CGE recognises that this particular case needs to be specifically
highlighted, as it illustrates severe socio-economic need and desperation,
which cause women to be particularly vulnerable to danger. It is distressing to
learn that several of the murdered women were found in possession of their
curriculum vitaes, an indication of how their desperate search for employment
to support their families led them to such a brutal death. Upliftment and
empowerment of marginalized communities needs to be made a core focus of the
KwaZulu-Natal government, to ensure that vulnerable people are not forced into
situations that compromise their safety, dignity and lives.
The CGE recommends in particular accelerated partnerships between provincial
and local government and the private sector, to promote faster paced local
economic development and job opportunities, to enable women to put food on the
table for their families â without risking their personal safety.
Commission on Gender Equality CGE Commissioners Shozi, Memani-Balani and
Hicks, together with provincial office staff will be present at the first court
hearing, scheduled for Friday, 9 November at the Umzinto Mangistrate's Court.
CGE will convene a media briefing at the court, after the hearing.
Contact:
Malebo Boikanyo
Communications Officer
Tel: 011 403 7182
Fax: 011 403 7188
Issued by: Commission on Gender Equality
2 November 2007
Source: Commission on Gender Equality (http://www.cge.org.za)
