“We have agreed among all social partners that
we need to take extraordinary and concerted action using every means at our
disposal to end this crisis,” Ramaphosa told the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg
on Thursday afternoon.
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The move comes a day before the country joins
anti-GBV organisations in a protest and 15 minutes of silence for the 15 women
murdered in the country every day.
Bernadette Beyers from Purple Cap, a drug
rehabilitation centre in Pietermaritzburg, says it is disappointing that GBV is
only being declared a crisis now.
“It is a national crisis, and the government
has not done much about it. We run a drug rehabilitation centre, and substance
abuse is also a serious issue that is making this gender-based violence in high
rise.”
Craig Freese from Men Fighting Against Domestic
Abuse says anti-abuse NGOs urgently need more substantial support from the
government.
“We fully need the support of everybody, as we
all know that GBV, femicide and substance abuse cannot be dealt with as
individuals, and the government is not playing an active role.”
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