Taung-Incident of gender based violence call on communities to unite to reclaim their streets and neighbourhoods from criminals and start naming and shaming perpetrators, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in condemning an incident in which an uncle was slain while trying to stop a man from raping his niece.

“We call for united action to stop gender based violence and for the arrested 21-year old suspect not to be granted bail. Our communities have had enough of these incidents. Only harsher sentences will serve as a deterrent,” emphasised Premier Modise.

According to police, a 17 year old girl who stayed with her uncle in Cokonyane village near Taung was allegedly awoken by someone touching her while she was asleep.

Her uncle who reportedly responded to her scream for help found a man in his niece’s room who stabbed him several times until he fell unconsciously.

“The suspect grabbed the niece, tried to force her to follow him and stabbed her twice on her shoulder before allegedly raping her while she was still bleeding from her knife wounds,” said Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa of the North West Police.

Moiloa says that the uncle died at the crime scene.

Meanwhile, the North West Province is gearing up to host the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign which will be launched by President Jacob Zuma at the Mmabatho Stadium on Sunday November 25.

The event is part of an international campaign, which takes place every year from 25 November, a day which has been declared an International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Premier Modise urged communities to attend the event in order to show support for the campaign to be held under the theme “Vikela Mzansi-Kwanele! Communities united in preventing violence against women and Children.” 

“We call on all our people join us in the effort to stamp out abuse of women and children. We all have a duty as citizens of this country to make effort to eradicate any form of gender-based violence. Our province is troubled by scourge of rape, domestic violence and child-abuse and this 16 days campaign provide us with an opportunity to channel our energy in condemning these social ills and making South Africa a better place that we all aspire,” said Modise.

The campaign which focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children ends on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.-TDN

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