Oudtshoorn:President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the government will soon address the nation regarding measures to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and provide updates on the investigation into the killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni.
According to South African Government News Agency, the announcement was made during the National Heritage Day celebrations at Bongolethu Sports Stadium in the Western Cape. This comes in the wake of the discovery of nine women's bodies in Gauteng's Ekurhuleni and nearby areas over the past two months.
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the abuse, rape, and killing of women should not be considered part of South Africa's heritage. He stated that women have the right to walk the streets without fear and condemned any culture that undermines the dignity of women, labeling the situation as a national shame.
The President stressed the importance of addressing the realities affecting South Africans' daily lives, particularly the unequal experience of freedom and safety between men and women. He declared that violence against women would not be part of the legacy left to future generations and called for addressing the disparities in the lived experiences of the country's people.
He highlighted the need for a safe country where all citizens can live with dignity and the government effectively serves its people. President Ramaphosa urged South Africans to unite against the modern challenges of unemployment, GBV, corruption, and substance abuse, drawing parallels to the solidarity shown during the fight against apartheid.