KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has called on members of his executive council and all elected public representatives to publicly take a stand against rape and all forms of sexual abuse against women and children.
He was speaking following the sentencing of a 51 year old Skhosiphi Shange in the Empangeni Regional Court. Shange was handed a 20-year prison sentence for raping a 14-year old teenager. Apparently, he had asked her to accompany him to the shop and while walking there, she was forced into a bush and raped.
“It is my view that leaders of government at all levels are not vocal enough in fighting rape. And to a large extent – elected leaders are not providing strong leadership when it comes to eradicating this problem from our society.”
“Rape is the worse form of exploitation of a human being and this act should solicit an overwhelming rejecting from all of us as elected representatives of our people.”
“In the recent two-day cabinet strategic workshop I called on the department of social development to develop a plan which will assist government to profile all rape cases in this province. Importantly, we need to profile all rapists and visit their families so that we can all understand their upbringing.”
“We need a list of all these people and this should be available for all to see and scrutinize.”
“We cannot hope to solve this problem if we do not understand what goes into the mind of a rapist and what influences such a person to do such a barbaric thing.”
“We call on mayors and councillors across all municipalities in the province to be actively involved in the fight against this act. It cannot be correct that families of rape victims are not even visited by elected representatives when their loved ones have been exploited.”
“Elected representatives who were put into office by the people must stand up and show a public display of disapproval of this sheer brutality.”
“In addition, leaders of society including traditional and religious leaders must emphasize human values of respect and caring for a fellow human being.
“Normal socialisation is about creating a human being capable of showing and sharing affection, warmth and friendship. It is such individuals that will create a caring and humane society that we desire.”
