‘Women have lost faith in the justice system’: DA marches against murder and GBV
However, one bystander said 'singing in the street' would not reduce crime.
Thousands of DA supporters marched in Pretoria's Tshwane against gender-based violence (GBV) on Saturday. March leaders, including DA mayoral candidates Cilliers Brink, Helen Zille, and Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, demanded more police resources, better investigative capabilities, and resolved DNA evidence backlogs. Brink emphasized that women shouldn't have to alter their behavior due to crime and highlighted that 12 murders occur daily in Gauteng.
Twelve funeral vans accompanied the march to Kgoši Mampuru II Correctional Centre, where former prisoners stood in symbolic representation of the need for stricter laws and harsher sentencing. One marcher, Sophie Cloete, stated that women in her community have lost faith in the justice system due to fear of reporting abusers and disappointment in the system's inability to protect them.
Despite the demonstration, a bystander argued that empty promises and lack of action prevent tangible change. Police spokesperson Colonel Amanda van Wyk confirmed that the force is intensifying its efforts against gender-based violence and femicide through Operation Shanela, resulting in the arrest of 14,581 suspects and the tracing of 1,811 wanted individuals linked to violent crimes.
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