End the Violence: Commit to a National Plan on Gender-Based Violence

"Work it out..”, according to sources, this is what the police said to Karabo Mokoena who had opened a case of assault against her boyfriend [1]. One month later, she went missing and was found dead allegedly at the hands of the very same man. Like many other women and children, the institutions meant to protect Karabo effectively sent her to her death.

Everyday women are killed, raped and brutalised, not by monsters, but the men with whom we share our beds, homes, workplaces, churches and streets. The men in our daily spaces. Across the country, thousands are raising their voices in outrage, saying this has to come to an end. Right now we have a real shot to take our collective outrage and call for Minister Shabangu to commit to the development of a National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence. Karabo Mokoena, Lerato Moloi, Bongeka Phungula and Popi Qwabe are just of few of the many who have been murdered in 2017 so far. We are tired of being killed, maimed and brutalised at the hands of men. We call for an end to this senseless violence unleashed on women’s bodies. We want effective justice now! Let's stand together and call for Minister Dlamini to commit to a National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). No more women must die on our watch.

Violence against women has always been a serious problem in Mzansi. Recently there has been more coverage of gruesome rapes and murders everywhere in our country. From 3-year-old Courtney Pieters [2], who was raped and murdered by a family friend and tenant earlier this month, to the rape of elderly women in Willowvale [3] and recently the rape of Tambai Moloi, a lesbian from Soweto [4], it is clear that all women are at risk and it is a matter of "when" not "whether" it will happen. These cases, and the many more that occur each year, show that we are still a very long way from eradicating GBV in South Africa. This calls for everyone to stand together and demand that the Department of Women commit to a National Strategic Plan on GBV now.

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/05/24/karabo-mokoenas-mother-warned-her-daughter-that-mantsoe-would_a_22106699/
[2]http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/courtney-pieters-was-raped-twice-before-being-murdered-court-hears-20170517
[3] http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eastern-cape-man-20-arrested-for-rape-of-woman-76-20170108
[4] http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2017/05/18/lerato-was-killed-by-people-she-knew-it-was-a-hate-crime

The following organisations are part of the campaign as of August 2016:

Sonke Gender Justice
MOSAIC
Amnesty International South Africa
Centre for Sexuality AIDS and Gender
People Opposing Women Abuse
South African Care Workers Forum
New World Foundation
Access Chapter 2
Love 167
Thando Care Service and Development Centre
Justice and Women
TB/HIV Care Association
Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce
Centre for Human Rights
Medecins Sans Frontieres South Africa
Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme
Treatment Action Campaign
Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture
World AIDS Campaign International
Sekwele Centre for Social Reflection
Greater Rape Intervention Programme
People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty
Gender Links
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Women’s Legal Centre
Pietermaritzburg Agency for Social Community Action
Grassroot Soccer
Gender, Health & Justice Research Unit
South African Faith and Family Institute
Tears Foundation
Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust
Sun of Joy Foundation
Rock Girl
Soul City
NACOSA
amandla.mobi