Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has condemned threats of violence allegedly directed at a group of women at a Sandton establishment after they rejected the unwanted advances of a man publicly, who has been identified as Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama.
Letsike said the threats, which were captured on video, cannot be dismissed as an unfortunate exchange, or a momentary loss of temper.
She said the incident highlighted the broader dangers of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), particularly attitudes that seek to punish women for exercising their autonomy.
“Rejection, anger, intoxication, wealth or social standing, perceived or real, can never excuse the harassment, humiliation or threatening of any woman in the Republic, as our Constitution guarantees all women an inalienable right to agency,” Letsike said.
The Deputy Minister has called on the Department of Home Affairs to urgently review Mudzinganyama’s presence and immigration status in South Africa.
She said if he meets the statutory grounds for classification as a prohibited or undesirable person under sections 29 or 30 of the Immigration Act, the department must act decisively and impose the full consequences permitted by law.
Letsike said her office will petition the Minister of Home Affairs on the matter.
The Deputy Minister also reiterated the condemnation of the incident by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and Substance Abuse, saying proper judicial process must now determine criminal liability.
Letsike welcomed the fact that Mudzinganyama has been processed by the South African Police Service and is expected to appear in court on 1 October 2026.
“The swift action taken by stakeholders across the public and private sectors demonstrates that the fight against gender-based violence requires consequences wherever abusive conduct occurs and cannot be left to the criminal justice system alone.”
The Deputy Minister also welcomed measures taken by entities in the private sector following the incident, including Moriel Infrastructure Group’s removal of Mudzinganyama as Executive Chairman and director, and Steyn City Properties’ termination of his lease.
She further welcomed investigations ordered by Transport Ministers Barbara Creecy and Home Affairs Minister Dean Macpherson into the company’s South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) contracts and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) gradings.
Letsike stressed that these measures do not replace the criminal investigation and that no one should prejudge the outcome of the judicial process.
However, she said the response demonstrates that conduct involving threats against women carry social, institutional and economic consequences and cannot be dismissed through an apology or an appeal to wealth and influence.
Letsike reiterated that perpetrators of GBVF must have no place to hide within the borders of the Republic of South Africa.
“These interventions demonstrate what a whole-of-society response should look like. Accountability must follow a perpetrator into every space from which power, status or impunity is derived.
“There must be criminal accountability where an offence has been committed, professional and corporate accountability where codes of conduct have been violated, and public-sector accountability wherever state contracts or public resources are involved,” the Deputy Minister said.
At a time when the country is confronting intolerable levels of violence against women, Letsike warned that society cannot normalise the language of murder or treat threats against women as entertainment.
She called on society to reject violence and intimidation against women wherever it occurs and stand with women who speak out.
“Women must be able to say no and continue with their lives without fear of retaliation.” – SAnews.gov.za
