The IFP in the KZN Legislature, as the Official Opposition, has called for society’s attitudes to change to stop gender-based violence (GBV).
Delivering his speech during a debate on Programmes aimed at Ending the Tragedy of Gender-based Violence and Femicide in our Lifetime, as highlighted in the 2023 State of the Province Address in the KZN Legislature, Leader of the Official Opposition, Mr Blessed Gwala MPL, said: “From the outset, the IFP is against GBV irrespective of who is involved. The IFP believes that the fight against GBV must be a 365-day-a-year project, not only during 16 Days of Activism. Traditional events such as Umkhosi Woselwa and Umkhosi woMhlanga, revived by the late His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and the late Zulu Traditional Prime Minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, must play an active role in addressing GBV. It is important to recognise that the struggle to combat GBV is everyone’s struggle, including us as Hon. Members of this House.”
“Our laws must have sharp teeth to bite. Crime is high and it is getting worse by the day, with no hope of abating any time soon. If the laws of the country are weak and soft to criminals, brazen criminals will continue to terrorise communities with impunity knowing there are few, if any, consequences. Perpetrators of all the horrors are guaranteed their human rights as a point of departure when confronted by the law. If the crime and criminals are given great leeway by the chronically weak state laws of the country, then only the laws and criminals will see the light of the day with citizens six feet underground. More resources must be deployed to eradicate crime,” continued Mr Gwala.
“We are concerned about the delay in DNA analysis with regards to rape cases which has led to low conviction rates in the province. We support the NPA, which has advocated for the establishment of a DNA lab in KwaZulu-Natal and this issue must be expedited,” added Mr Gwala.
“The recent crime stats released by the National Police Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, are frightening and qualify gender-based violence as a pandemic needing urgent attention. It is also of great concern that eThekwini Metro recorded 5 117 cases of gender-based violence, followed by the uMgungundlovu District with 1 689 cases between July and September 2023. It is therefore more important than ever that the local government plays an active role in addressing GBV. We also call upon churches to play an active role in addressing GBV. Government must not prioritise churches only during elections. Amakhosi are influential agents at community level and that they can play a significant and leading role in moral regeneration and to stem the tide of moral breakdown in our society,” concluded Mr Gwala.
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Contact
Mr Blessed Gwala MPL
Leader of the Official Opposition in the KZN Legislature
078 290 5842
