In an official statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa after signing the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Amendment Bill into law, said that the aspiration to be a truly free and equal society cannot be achieved as long as criminals steal resources meant to benefit the people and the country’s women and children do not feel safe and free to walk in the streets.
President Ramaphosa said corruption and gender-based violence are two scourges that plagued South Africa and corrode the country’s social fabric. “Corruption and gender-based violence are affronts to the human dignity that is the inalienable right of every South African. These forms of criminality are holding our country back and preventing us from realizing our full potential,” President Ramaphosa said. He made the remarks at a ceremony to sign the respective bills into law, held at the Union Building on Friday. The two signed pieces of legislation will form part of government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, develop partnerships and build state capacity. The National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide will coordinate and provide strategic leadership to the fight against GBV and femicide, and be multi-sectoral, drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders, including civil society, labour and business.(South African Government Agency)
The president is possible right to call out corruption and gender-based violence as being the major plagues for the country. Although the two forms of abuse are unrelated, they have an equal share in crippling South African society. As regards to corruption and state capture the president needs to have the Hawkes placed under the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and allow them to monitor the Organs of state for corruption. Gender-based violence is rooted in sexism and domestic abuse. Of course, holding formal ceremonies such as the one held at the Union Buildings, is supposed to be done to ensure transparency and accountability on behalf of the presidency. The state is trying to do its best to protect women and children in their homes and places of business and work. How it will succeed will depend on the involvement of all those areas where women have occupations, be it in the offices of business, the corridors of power or the labour force.
The issue of gender-based violence transcends race, creed, culture and language.
While acknowledging progress made in implementing the NSP for GBVF, President Ramaphosa emphasized the need for the national response to be more coordinated between the different stakeholders. “We need a national effort that is more inclusive, more focused, and better resourced. We are confident that this council will provide much of what we need and will further strengthen the national effort to eradicate violence against women and children,” the President said. On the National Prosecuting Authority Bill, President Ramaphosa highlighted that great progress has been had since the establishment of the Investigating Directorate within the NPA in the last five years. “It has been five years since we established an Investigating Directorate within the NPA to investigate cases of corruption and other serious crimes arising from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. These are five years in which great progress has been made. (South African Government Agency)
The president’s focus on Gender based violence shows that he is clearly concerned about the hike in femicide. Ramaphosa’s major goal here is to improve the status of women. The government could do this by highlighting the plight of women through the media. The main reason why a National Council was founded was to prevent the risk in violence against women. Much of this can be linked to alcohol and drug abuse as well as psychological problems. The prevention of abuse of women and children is meant to break the cycle of trauma. The point of the National Prosecuting Authority Bill is to strengthen the judiciary and relevant legal authorities in prosecuting the powerful. That is the powerful involved in corrupt activities. One of the key mistakes of the administration of former president Thabo Mbeki was to disband the Scorpions Directorate of Special Operations.
It is time to either bring it back or put the Hawkes (its replacement) under the direction of the National Prosecuting Authority. Otherwise, President Ramaphosa’s gesture remains just that, a gesture.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
