“Scourge of Gender Based Violence reached an unacceptable level in the province” says MEC Rakgoale

Zebediela

 

Member of Executive Committee (MEC) for Social Development in Limpopo Nkakareng Rakgoale said scourge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and femicide have reached an unacceptable level in the province.

 

MEC Rakgoale made this remark when she was visiting the family of Tshepo Aphane (32) in Magatle outside Zebediela.

 

Aphane was succumbed to serious burn injuries after she was allegedly set alight by her partner two weeks ago.

 

Rakgoale said social workers were sent to offer psychosocial support to the victim’s family.

 

“As government we cannot allow a situation where the vulnerable groups of society are being killed in this manner. These are not just statistics, but lives that are lost at the hands of abusers who have a total disregard for the law”.

 

“The right to life and dignity of our people must be respected at all material times. We also reiterate our call for people who are in abusive relationships or witness such incidents to report to social workers and the police so that we prevent these heinous acts from happening,” said the MEC.

 

She urged people who are in relationships, men in particular, to desist from resorting to violence and undermining the rights of their partners.

 

MEC also appealed to the members of the public and the civil society to join hands with government in the fight against the scourge of GBV.

 

“Members of the public must join hands with government in the fight against social ills such as Gender Based Violence and Femicide, substance abuse and child neglect,” said Rakgoale.

 

“People who experience and witnesses abuse to report to social workers and the police,” she concluded.