ANC national executive committee member Nomvula
Mokonyane was among a group of women, young girls, religious leaders and civil
society who marched and delivered a petition of demands to the Central Police
Station in Mthatha today, August 30, against the scourge of gender-based
violence (GBV) in the OR Tambo District.
The march followed a men’s dialogue hosted by the OR
Tambo District Municipality, on August 29, to find solutions to the GBV crisis
in the district.
A mass prayer to plead for divine intervention in
ending GBV was also held at Mthatha Town Hall after the march.
The march was organised by the multi-party caucus of
the OR Tambo District Municipality council with political parties including the
ANC, UDM, EFF and ATM taking part in the march.
“We are here in the last days of Women’s Month to
demand justice to be done. Over 21 GBV and femicide cases have been reported to
this police station [Central Police Station] but not even a single suspect has
been questioned in relation to the cases.”
“We want rape kits in every police station so that
every person who comes to report a rape case can be assisted. We also want the
police to work together with our municipalities so that there is a GBV desk in
every ward and voting district to follow up on incidents of GBV in their area,”
said Mokonyane during her address to the marchers.
The petition handed over to newly appointed OR Tambo
District police commissioner Major General Phumzile Cetyana further demanded
for establishment of a DNA laboratory for the district to help in speedily
prosecution of GBV related cases.
Cetyana said he will bring the petition to the
attention of Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli
Mene as bulk of the demands needed to be attended to by the provincial office.
