Johannesburg – Appalled by a video clip circulating on social media of a large man beating up a woman in the street in full view of onlookers, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has again called for specialised courts to deal with Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The EFF said it was “repulsed” by the video clip of the “barbaric man” shown “repeatedly assaulting a woman outside a car, without care or fear of consequence for his actions”.
In a statement late Wednesday, the party called on its members to find the culprit seen in the video clip.
“The EFF in Gauteng calls on all fighters on the ground to find this barbaric abuser who was caught on video abusing a woman,” the statement said.
“Leave no corner unchecked, no stone unturned, we must find him and bring him to the nearest police station.
“We also call on the victim to approach our Gender-Based Violence desk should she need any support or safe space.”
Every year the government spends millions of rand on “mere talks about gender-based violence and femicide in this country, with no tangible plans of action,” the EFF said, adding that it, “reiterates its call for specialised courts that will solely deal with GBV cases”.
The EFF said the government was “reluctant to radically tackle the raging femicide pandemic in this country”.
Between April to June this year, 855 women and 243 children were murdered, and over 11 000 Assault GBH cases, with female victims, were opened with the police.
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“Rapists, abusers, and murderers live amongst us with their heads held high because they know their abhorrent acts bear no consequence,” said the EFF.
“South Africa is still observing its 16 days of activism; however, this means nothing to the women and children who are mutilated and murdered daily.
“Let us all bear in mind that this is not a true number of the actual GBV and femicide deaths we have in this country and Province. “
The EFF said police officers also need intensified sensitivity training on how to handle GBV cases.
