By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Gender activists have said that South Africa’s declaration of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster will not save women’s lives unless it is backed by funding, tougher policing, and prevention programmes for boys and men.
The warning comes during the 16 Days of Activism campaign and weeks after thousands of South Africans joined a silent march against GBVF, organised by Women For Change, which has spent a decade calling for the scourge to be treated as a national disaster.
Tina Thiart, co-founder of the 1000 Women Trust, told Inside Metros that “advocacy is important” but said law enforcement agencies were failing to make an impact in safeguarding against GBVF, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
“The men who gang raped Zenizola Vena in September 2021 are still not behind bars. The men who gang raped the Krugersdorp 8 in 2022 are still not
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