Durban:KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has urged for an urgent and innovative programme of action to enhance the province's response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
According to South African Government News Agency, Ntuli addressed the Council Against Crime at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville, Durban, where he emphasized the need for a coordinated response to crime and its broader impact on KwaZulu-Natal's social and economic development. During the engagement, GBVF was a focal point, with the Premier advocating for stronger collaboration and innovative strategies to deliver tangible results.
Ntuli highlighted the alarming rise in GBVF cases in the province and called for improved collaboration among civil society, government, and other stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of a whole-of-society approach, involving law enforcement, traditional leadership, and communities.
The Premier also called on Amakhosi and traditional leaders to spearhead behavioral change among men and promote positive male role models. This is part of the Provincial Government's ongoing efforts to engage men and boys in challenging the attitudes and behaviors contributing to violence against women and children.
Ntuli mentioned the Silwa Nechilo (we fight the shame) programme as a key component of KwaZulu-Natal's continuous response to GBVF. This campaign is part of a broader effort to ensure that actions against violence directed at women and children persist throughout the year.
He clarified that the Silwa Nechilo campaign targets combating GBVF, regardless of perpetrators' background or nationality. He cited recent arrests of suspects accused of multiple sexual offences to illustrate that GBVF is not limited to nationality or origin.
The Premier underscored the need for a response focusing on crime prevention, law enforcement strengthening, survivor support, and societal mobilization against violence. He reminded stakeholders of the personal and community impact behind every crime statistic, stating that victims are integral members of society.
The Council Against Crime also discussed the relationship between crime and KwaZulu-Natal's development goals, stressing the importance of safer communities for economic activity, investment, and tourism. Ntuli emphasized the need for stronger coordination between government institutions and communities, supported by interventions addressing criminal activities and their social causes.
The Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to a coordinated response to GBVF, with prevention, behavioral change, effective law enforcement, and community mobilization being central to its approach.
'Many people think that #SilwaNechilo is a campaign targeted at foreign nationals. That is not true,' he said.