Ms Thandi Nontenja
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is disgusted by the acts of South African men who have no respect for women’s lives. In the previous year, we have seen women die at the hands of men.
It is 22 days into the new year, and we wake up to shocking and devastating news of yet another young woman who has been brutally murdered by her boyfriend.
The question lingers “What has happened to the moral compass of the South African male?’. These thugs do not deserve to be called men, because real men do not abuse nor do they take life.
Intern Dr Sibongile Nkhwashu’s life was cut short by an animal who goes around calling himself a man, a life that was supposed to be absorbed into the health sector to increase the numbers of much-needed doctors in this country, has been taken away from us because of the degenerate moral compass of her boyfriend.
Where should women live and in order to lead safer lives in our society? Femicide robs society of a brighter future; this is totally unacceptable
UDEMWO calls for harsh punishment and no bail for the alleged perpetrator and all perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV), we further call on all sectors of society to weigh-in on GBV in order to have a collective and a united voice against it.
This is not only a government issue, however a societal issue that needs all our efforts to defeat it.
We need safer communities with zero tolerance for crime, members of community working with the police, civil society, religious/faith groups and all stakeholders to curb this scourge.
Government should expand and accelerate these interventions and reinforce its work on the 365 days of activism and not just sixteen days.
Issued by:
Ms Thandi Nontenja
UDEMWO Secretary General
