Ramaphosa announces four-point plan to tackle GBVF
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a four-point plan to deal with the pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.
The measures focus on recovering unresolved GBV-related cases, reducing forensic backlogs, improving safety in public spaces and addressing alcohol-related violence.
Ramaphosa said he had directed the Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and, with due regard to prosecutorial independence, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), to undertake a national case-recovery operation.
The operation will focus on unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children.
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Within 60 days, the audit must establish the number and age of unresolved cases, cases awaiting forensic evidence, cases where suspects have been identified but not arrested, and cases where investigative or prosecutorial action has been unreasonably delayed.
Within 90 days, individual recovery plans must be developed for priority and stalled cases, identifying the outstanding action, responsible official and deadline.
Ramaphosa also directed the Minister of Police, National Commissioner of Police and relevant forensic authorities to present a funded plan within 60 days to reduce forensic backlogs and establish turnaround standards for priority GBVF cases.
Priority forensic samples in cases involving the rape or murder of women and children must be ring-fenced for urgent processing, with progress against the turnaround standards reported publicly every quarter.
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The third measure requires every municipality to conduct a women’s safety audit without delay, working with provincial governments and the police to identify high-risk areas.
The audits must identify issues including broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and facilities, poorly secured parks and other conditions that place women at risk.
Within 90 days of completing the audits, urgent hazards must either be addressed or included in funded implementation plans with clear completion dates.
Provincial and municipal authorities have also been directed to intensify enforcement of existing liquor laws and by-laws, particularly against unlicensed outlets and establishments operating outside permitted hours.
As the fourth measure, Ramaphosa directed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, together with the Ministers of Health, Social Development, Police and Cooperative Governance, to submit a coordinated legislative and enforcement package to Cabinet within 60 days to reduce alcohol-related violence.
