KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called for an urgent and innovative programme of action to intensify the province’s response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
Ntuli made the call when he was addressing the Council Against Crime at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville, Durban, on Friday.
The Council brought together government and key stakeholders to consider a coordinated response to crime, community safety and the broader impact of criminality on KwaZulu-Natal’s social and economic development.
GBVF featured prominently during the engagement, with the Premier calling for greater urgency, stronger collaboration and innovative interventions capable of producing tangible results.
“Our province is currently gripped by a sharp surge in cases of GBVF. To this end, I call for improved collaboration from civil society, organs of state and various stakeholders. Addressing GBVF requires a whole-of-society approach involving government, law enforcement, traditional leadership, civil society, communities and other social partners.”
The Premier also reiterated his call for Amakhosi and other traditional leaders to champion behavioural change among men, and to promote positive male role models who respect and protect the dignity of women.
This built on the Provincial Government’s ongoing efforts to involve Amakhosi and Izinduna in community-level interventions, aimed at engaging men and boys and challenging attitudes and behaviour that contribute to violence against women and children.
Ntuli also highlighted the province’s Silwa Nechilo (we fight the shame) programme as an important component of KwaZulu-Natal’s year-round response to GBVF.
The campaign forms part of a broader 365-day approach aimed at ensuring that action against violence directed at women and children continues throughout the year, rather than being confined to commemorative periods.
“Gender-Based Violence occurs every day. It does not go on holiday when the festive season arrives. It follows women wherever they go, 365 days a year.”
The Premier also moved to clarify the purpose of the Silwa Nechilo campaign, stressing that it is directed at combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, irrespective of the background or nationality of perpetrators.
“Many people think that #SilwaNechilo is a campaign targeted at foreign nationals. That is not true,” he said.
Ntuli referred to recent arrests involving suspects accused of multiple sexual offences to illustrate that GBVF could not be reduced to questions of nationality or origin.
Last week, the Premier attended the Durban Magistrates’ Court appearance of a 46-year-old suspect linked by police to 16 alleged rape cases in KwaZulu-Natal, including 14 cases recorded in Cato Manor. The allegations remained before the courts.
The Premier stressed that the province’s response must focus on preventing offending behaviour, strengthening law enforcement, supporting survivors and mobilising society against violence wherever it occurred.
He also reminded stakeholders that behind every crime statistic is a person, a family and a community affected by violence.
“Victims of GBVF are our sisters, mothers, daughters, nieces and wives. They are one of us,” Ntuli said.
Coordination
The broader Council Against Crime engagement further considered the relationship between crime and KwaZulu-Natal’s development ambitions, including the importance of safer communities and business environments for economic activity, investment and tourism.
Ntuli emphasised that reducing crime requires stronger coordination between government institutions and communities, supported by interventions that address both criminal activities and the underlying social conditions contributing to violence.
The Council provides a platform for stakeholders to examine existing interventions, identify gaps and consider practical measures capable of strengthening crime prevention and community safety across the province.
The Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to a coordinated and sustained response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with prevention, behavioural change, effective law enforcement and community mobilisation remaining central to the province’s approach. – SAnews.gov.za
