Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has called on members of his executive council to publicly take a stand against rape and all forms of sexual abuse against women and children.
He was speaking following the sentencing of 51-year-old Skhosiphi Shange in the Empangeni Regional Court. Shange was handed a 20-year prison sentence for raping a 14-year-old teenager. Apparently, he had asked her to accompany him to the shop and while walking there, she was forced into a bush and raped.
“We call on mayors and councillors across all municipalities in the province to be actively involved in the fight against this act. It cannot be correct that families of rape victims are not even visited by elected representatives when their loved ones have been exploited,” he said.
In addition, leaders of society, including traditional and religious leaders, are urged to emphasize human values of respect and caring for fellow human beings.
“Normal socialization is about creating a human being capable of showing and sharing affection, warmth and friendship. It is such individuals that will create a caring and humane society that we desire,” Premier Mchunu said.
He said leaders of government at all levels were not vocal enough in fighting rape. “And to a large extent – elected leaders are not providing strong leadership when it comes to eradicating this problem from our society.
“Rape is the worse form of exploitation of a human being and this act should solicit an overwhelming rejecting from all of us as elected representatives of our people,” Premier Mchunu said.
He called on the Department of Social Development to develop a plan which will assist government to profile all rape cases in the province.
“Importantly, we need to profile all rapists and visit their families so that we can all understand their upbringing.
“We need a list of all these people and this should be available for all to see and scrutinize. We cannot hope to solve this problem if we do not understand what goes into the mind of a rapist and what influences such a person to do such a barbaric thing.” – SAnews.gov.za
