President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stark warning over South Africa’s escalating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) crisis, describing it as a threat not only to the country but to societies worldwide, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Speaking at the closing of the G20 Social Summit, the president stressed that no nation can hope to prosper while women, children and other vulnerable groups continue to face abuse, often at the hands of the very people meant to protect them. His remarks come as women’s rights organisations across the country prepare to stage protests and pickets to draw attention to the unrelenting wave of violence affecting South African women.
Ramaphosa noted that the problem has deepened since the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when domestic violence cases surged dramatically. He warned that the current situation has become even more severe, with the safety and agency of women under sustained attack.
He argued that societies cannot flourish while power imbalances persist and survivors are silenced, emphasising that both men and women must be part of dismantling the culture that enables violence. According to him, the erosion caused by male-perpetrated violence harms communities at their core and undermines progress.
The president said the state intends to accelerate its efforts to protect vulnerable citizens, making clear that addressing GBVF is now being prioritised as a global emergency. He said that government, in partnership with social stakeholders, has committed to advancing coordinated action to confront the crisis head-on.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Mzansi street earns global praise in world’s coolest streets list
Picture: Chip Somodevilla / Gallo Images
