Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela has called on the community of Thembalethu and the people of this country to come together and act against women and children abuse.
Speaking at the annual commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against gender-related violence in George, on Friday, the Public Protector said the problem was international and needed a collaborative solution.
This year’s campaign is celebrated under the theme: “From peace in the home, to peace in the world: Proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence.”
The Public Protector referred to gender based violence as a challenge that needs all South Africans to play their part in efforts to eradicate this scourge.
She also highlighted that maladministration and corruption which result in people not getting services and employment opportunities they ought to get from state also contribute to abuse in many households.
Speaking at the same event, Acting chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality Mfanozelwe Shozi echoed the Public Protector’s sentiments and called on members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to treat gender-related cases with the sensitivity they deserve.
He further called on the society to change attitude on how they look at abuse and urged the communities to report such as at times dehumanise people and make them less of citizenry.
The chairperson also urged the SAPS to be in touch with victims and update them regularly on the status of their cases. The event marked the beginning of the internationally celebrated campaign which runs until 10 December, however, the Public Protector and the Gender Commission urged the people to take children and women’s abuse as a whole campaign not a once off activity.
The community of Thembalethu also used the opportunity to raise their problems with the Public Protector. Among the issues raised were allegations of unlawful allocation of RDP houses, corruption and poor service delivery by the municipality relating to water, electricity and sanitation, procurement irregularities, undue delay of pension pay out, lack of transformation at George Hospital, unfair labour practices, delays in the issuing of identity documents and discourteous conduct by public officials.
The Public Protector promised the communities that her office will look into their complaints and the Gender Commission called upon communities to report issues of abuse to their Provincial Offices for assistance.
For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi (Spokesperson for: CGE)
Tel: 012 366 7006
Cell: 079 507 0399
E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org
Javu Baloyi (Spokesperson for Public Protector)
Tel: 011 403 7182
Cell: 083 579 3306
E-mail: javu@cge.org.za
Public Protector and Gender Commission call on the nation to jointly act against women and children abuse
