Pretoria - Cabinet has called on all sectors of society to join hands in defeating the incidents of abuse and violence against women and children.
The executive has also urged communities to work with the police and justice system to bring perpetrators to book.
“President Jacob Zuma has called for a stop to the continued abuse of women and children,” Cabinet said in a statement on Thursday after its regular meeting.
Cabinet said as a country, South Africa continues to have a patriarchal society, hence it said efforts must be doubled to fight the scourge of femicide and human trafficking.
In recent weeks and days, women and child abuse has come to the fore with the discovery of Karabo Mokoena’s burnt body and nine-year-old Keketso Mahlakwana, whose body was discovered in an open field in Lenasia. Cases across the country, including that of three-year-old Courtney Pieters have gripped the nation’s collective attention.
Cabinet has instructed the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster to put in place a programme of action to help fight the abuse of women and children.
Child Protection Week
Meanwhile, Cabinet has called on all South Africans to support Child Protection Week. The week will be observed from 28 May to 4 June under the theme, ‘Let us all protect children to move South Africa forward’.
Cabinet said the protection of children is the duty and responsibility of all South Africans - parents, guardians, individuals and communities.
It has encouraged all sectors of society to work together to create safer and healthier communities in which children can thrive.
“As a society, we have a duty to do more to ensure the most vulnerable do not suffer abuse. It is in our hands to stop the cycle of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children.” - SAnews.gov.za
