The spate of rapes and violence against women and children that is gripping our country remains a matter of grave concern for all of us. This scourge is a threat to our hard-earned freedom, for it condemns women and children to a life of fear and prevents them from becoming productive members of society.

Domestic violence becomes even more deadly when guns – legal or illegal – are present in the home, because they can be used to threaten, injure or kill women and children. Research shows that most gender violence in South Africa happens in intimate partner relationships. We must all be concerned at the growing reports of women who continue to die at the hands of their partners or abused by people who were supposed to protect and love them.

Domestic violence is exacerbated by easy access to guns. We are making a call for stricter gun control. As a country we need to wage a sustained and effective campaign against the availability of guns in our homes and streets. Indeed, women are three times more likely to die violently if there is a gun in the house.

Our focus must be on the following:

Mobilise all members of the community to join this fight. When we know that someone is being abused in our own home or in our neighbour’s house, we have a duty to report it. We also have a duty to stand in court as witnesses to make sure that these abusers are prosecuted successfully.

• Reiterate our call to the courts of our land to impose the heaviest possible sentence against perpetrators of women and child abuse. By giving women and child abusers harsher sentences, our courts are continuing to play a role in sending a message to these abusers that their actions will not be tolerated. We are encouraged by the courts that have already demonstrated firmness in dealing with violence against women and children. TheUlundi and Nongoma Regional Court Judges sent three rapists to long terms in jail for rape last year. Again the Nongoma Regional Court convicted and sentenced a 27 year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a 20 year old victim. In 2011, the North Gauteng High Court sentenced the murderer of little Masego Kgomo to life imprisonment.

• ·        We welcome the re-establishment of thesexual offences courts which will help in the speedy prosecution of gender-based violence.We also note the Minister of Health’s announcement to recruit and train moreforensic technicians to staff a fourth forensic laboratory. This will go a long way in processing vital evidence.

• Ensure that policies, legislation and other measures that sought to eliminate the abuse of women, children and people with disabilities are effectively implemented and monitored.

• ·        The 25thof each month was declared the International Orange Day by the United Nations. The campaign is aimed at ensuring that violence against women and girls is observed on a daily basis and that the awareness is incorporated into our 365 days Action Plan against Gender-Based Violence. We will utilize this day as a platform to ensure that the campaign against gender-based violence takes place throughout the year. Yesterday, we met in rural Kwazulu-Natal with women groups, government departments, NGOs, UNWomen to mark the national launch of International Orange Day.

• ·        Government has established theNational Council Against Gender Based Violence (NCAGBV) to provide strategic leadership, coordination and monitoring of gender-based violence initiatives in South Africa.The Council is convened at a high level. The Deputy President is the patron and the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities will be its champion.

The Council will meet four times a year. We believe that the time is now for collective action to eradicate gender-based violence. This requires determination and commitment by government and all sectors, including the media.

The National Council Against Gender-Based Violence will focus on the following key pillars to end violence:

• ·        Prevention
• ·        Response
• ·        Support
• ·        Co-ordination and Communications
• ·        Advocacy, awareness-raising and social campaigns

We are confident that the Council will be able to discharge its mandate more effectively. It is constituted by government departments or agencies such as Justice and Constitutional Development, Education, Health, Correctional Services, Social Development, SAPS, NPA as well as NGOs and civil society organisations like POWA, COSATU, Gender Links, Sonke Gender Justice and many others including religious, traditional leaders and people with disabilities. The Council will use its collective strength to ensure that women and girls are able to fully realize their rights as citizens and to live in safe communities.

We would like to applaud the initiatives by various organisations which are aimed at eliminating gender-based violence. We wish to commend government departments, civil society, the media, especially the Sowetan and others, for running a sustained campaign against rape on a daily basis. We wish to encourage other media houses to emulate this noble example.

We also welcome the Campaign Against Rape and Violence Against Women initiative led by the Department of Basic Education in which we are mobilising 10.2 million learners against rape and violence.

Bredasdorp – Anene Booysen’s alleged rapist and killer fell and hurt himself, the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Maria Marshall said Jonathan Davids, 22, had marks on his left arm and neck when he was arrested on Saturday evening, February 2.

Davids, who was on the stand testifying in his bail application,said he got the marks when he fell that morning.

Booysen was found gang-raped and disembowelled at a nearby construction site in the early hours of that morning.

Before she died in hospital, Marshall said the teenager told hospital staff that “Zwaai” and six other men were responsible for her injuries. Davids’ nickname was “Zwaai”.

He earlier told the court that he knew of another “Zwaai”, who lived in Zwelitsha.

“I heard he’s a gangster, a 28 (gang member),” Davids said. He could not say if Booysen had known this man.

Davids and his co-accused Johannes Kana, 21, are accused of the crimes, which fall under Schedule Six and which require them to prove there are “exceptional circumstances” why they should be granted bail.

Kana’s bail application is to be heard at a later stage.

Marshall warned Davids that, should he be released on bail, the police would not be able to guarantee his safety.

In a petition, the community had made it clear they would not tolerate anyone guilty of the crimes living in the vicinity.

“If you’re granted bail, are you not worried about your safety?… They could hurt you,” asked Marshall.

Davids shook his head and said: “Hulle mag nie (They are not allowed to).”

He later conceded that his life could be at risk.

Marshall asked why he should be let free.

“Because I’m innocent,” he replied. – Sapa

Krugerdorp – The Krugersdorp Regional Court denied bail to murder accused Roedolf Viviers on Tuesday.

“The applicant failed dismally to prove to this court that it would be in the interest of justice to release him on bail. Bail is therefore denied,” said magistrate Reginald Dama.

Viviers and another man, Zayne van Tonder, 33, allegedly insulted Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi and his friend Anser Mahmood about their beards at a Chicken Licken outlet in Magaliesburg on August 6, 2012.

An argument and a fight ensued. Kazi was severely beaten and died in hospital.

Charges against Van Tonder were later dropped and he was released.

Kazi’s brothers Mohammed Nuaman, 22, and Mohammed Farhan, 18, shouted “Praise Allah” when Dama made his ruling.

Kazi’s widow Sajidah sobbed and hugged friends and relatives who packed the public gallery.

Viviers, who was wearing glasses, a blue shirt and khaki pants calmly listened to Dama. He looked at his feet when he was led to the police cells.

He will appear in the High Court in Johannesburg on March 4, when a trial date is to be set. – Sapa

BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The Douglas Police in the Northern Cape Province are looking for three suspects of a rape case.

 Police said on saturday at about 10:00 am, a 47 year-old woman went out to look for her 13 year-old son in nearby Shops in Douglas.

” The woman could not find her son and went further to other shops to continue the search. She was alone in the street when suddenly three unknown male suspects approached her from behind” Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

 “The three suspects grabbed her and started toassault, kicking, and trampling her without any reason. The woman then became unconscious and woke-up at another house nearby, wearing only a jersey and socks” he said.

Some community members assisted her with a blanket to cover self.

She was taken to a local clinic where she received received a medical assistance.

 The police confirmed that the victim was raped and was able to identify the three male suspects.

“And an ID-Kit was drawn as a result. Two of the suspects are short and light in complexion, whilst the other suspect is tall and dark” police said.

The SAPS is concerned about the plight of women and children in South Africa and calls on community members to join hands with government to address this challenge by providing us with information about the whereabouts of wanted suspects.

Arresting these suspects will stop and prevent them to prey on other victims. The SAPS therefore calls on anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Constable Bongani Gumede on 082 302 0468 (c) or 053-838 4213 alternatively contact Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

BY Obakeng Maje

Wolmaranstad-A 31 year old woman is expected to appear before Wolmaranstad Magistrate Court on Wednesday in connection with a murder of a 66 year old David Alexander Barclay.

“The man was found lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound in the neck on Saturday at Lindburg Lodge Vaalbochfontein” colonel Sabata Mokwabone said