A VIEW OF THE WEEK: With a GBV response like this, who needs enemies
When top cops can be so brazen and ethically bankrupt, what hopes do we have of fixing the GBV pandemic?
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a speech on "the war against women and girls" this week, but the nation remained disheartened and in need of assistance. The speech touched on various aspects such as task teams, audits, and departmental responsibilities, all aimed at addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. Task teams, audits, and quarterly reports were to ensure transparency and accountability.
However, the solutions seemed to lack practicality, as they seemed to prioritize paperwork over meaningful change. The priority was on accountability and service delivery, but the solutions offered by Ramaphosa appeared to be more about political rhetoric than tangible actions. The nation was left questioning the sincerity of these initiatives.
Moreover, the speech was marred by the revelation of one of the country's top police officials, Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who stands accused of sexual grooming, human trafficking, and rape. Sibiya's explanations for his alleged crimes seemed to add fuel to the fire, casting doubt on his ability to lead the fight against GBV.
This, coupled with the empty desks of police dedicated to GBV, further undermines the government's efforts to tackle the issue. The nation is left with a sense of despair, as the very leaders tasked with protecting its women and girls are themselves seen as part of the problem.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
