Pretoria - Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana has urged communities to work together with government to stamp out the abuse of women and children.
“We are here to say, with one united voice, that the spate of gender-based violence taking place across the length and breadth of our land must stop. We urge members of our communities to join hands with government in order to help defeat the scourge of child and women abuse,” said Xingwana on Tuesday.
She was speaking at the court appearance of the two men who have been accused of raping and killing teenager Anene Booysen. The 17-year-old girl was discovered by a security guard at a construction site in Bredasdorp, Western Cape. She was brutally raped and left for dead during the early hours of Saturday [2 February] morning by a group of men.
Xingwana attended the two men’s court appearance in the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court today.
She called on the country’s courts to impose “the harshest and heaviest” possible punishment against those found guilty of crimes against women and children.
“The brutality and ruthless disregard for the lives of women points to a deterioration of the moral fibre of our society,” she added.
She called on the public not to turn a blind eye on the abuse of women and children. “The key message to every member of the community is: ‘Don’t look away. Act against abuse.’
Gender-based violence, said Xingwana robs women of the opportunity to become productive citizens of the country.
“To Anene’s family, I wish to say: You are not alone in this hour of pain. The entire nation shares your grief. In the name of Anene, we must make a solemn pledge never to turn a blind eye to abuse and never to allow rape to go unreported and unpunished. This will be the best tribute her,” said Xingwana.
Booysen was buried at the weekend.
The two men will appear in court again on 26 February. – SAnews.gov.za
