Premier addresses GBV in keynote address
Statistics released last year showed that in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Inanda is leading in terms of gender-based violence (GBV) related crimes, having recorded 641 cases from April 2022 to March 2023.
Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli addressed the crowds at the Law Enforcement Parade yesterday, Monday July 1, where he spoke about the fight against GBV and femicide.
“I know of no culture, religion, or creed that does not place on men the responsibility to protect women and children. It is very shameful that the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide has reached worrisome proportions in our country,” Premier Ntuli said.
“According to statistics released last year, Inanda is leading in terms of gender-based violence-related crimes. These cases include rape, sexual assault, assault with a purpose to inflict grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, common assault, and murder.”
According to the statistics released, the top 30 police stations in the province recorded 10 442 cases of GBV-related crimes.
The Premier said men who attack women have always been regarded as “cowards”.
High levels of GBV is brought about by ignorance, myths, fallacies, and falsehoods. It is a major fallacy, he added, that men are made for leadership. Those men who believe this myth are likely to unnecessarily feel emasculated by the mere occupation of leadership positions by women, the Premier said.
He urged people to teach male children that women are not their maids; not their toys; not their punching bags but are their equal partners.
“We must teach our children that washing dishes and clothes; cleaning the house, and cooking are not gender roles but life skills. While such an approach is essential for our male children’s own development and readiness for the future, it also ensures that as they grow and meet women, they do not attempt to relegate them to their servants,” the Premier said.
Over and above a man’s general responsibility to protect women, men in uniform have a unique role to play, Premier Ntuli added. That special role stems from the fact that a distressed woman gains hope when she sees a man in uniform. She sees a saviour and a protector. Abused women look up to men in uniform for relief, be it medical, psychological or legal. They rightly expect justice from those charged with healing and protection, said Premier Ntuli.
“According to the Human Rights Watch, domestic violence is the most common form of gender-based violence among partners. Domestic violence refers to forms of abuse, which include physical abuse; emotional, verbal and psychological abuse; economic abuse; intimidation; harassment; stalking; property damage; and so on. When these women walk or, sometimes sadly, crawl into police stations, they expect justice and healing. They do not expect negotiations to be brokered by police officers. They do not expect judgment when wearing revealing clothes. They do not expect lethargy and indifference,” Premier Ntuli added.
The men in uniform, who took a stand yesterday, sent a message that over and above protecting women from society - our sisters, daughters and mothers in the uniformed forces are also safe, said Premier Ntuli. It means that where they serve, they have their colleagues as protectors.
“Seeing the cooperation among different entities and organisations gives me hope that the noble fight against this scourge will succeed. I call on all non-governmental organisations, various state bodies, religious bodies, cultural organisations and individuals to continue cooperating. Through various platforms, the KZN Provincial Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to fight GBV. These stakeholders include men’s organisations. Social accountability is a value to which we strongly subscribe.”
