The North West Department of Social Development (NWDSD) has raised concerns about the rising number of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the province.
This follows the recent killings of five women in the province allegedly by their partners.
The NWDSD spokesperson Petrus Siko speaking on behalf of the MEC Boitumelo Moiloa said she condemned the killing of women and urged community members to help end the scourge of GBV.
“The MEC for Social Development in the North West, Boitumelo Moiloa condemns the sporadic incidents of Gender-Based Violence in the province.
“We, therefore, call on every member of society to play a role in curbing GBV. We call on State-owned agencies, Non Profit Organisations, and businesses including everyone, even the media, to form partnerships in the fight against the scourge of GBV,” Siko said.
In the latest incident, a North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, said they’re investigating a case of murder after a partially burned body of a woman was discovered in Lokaleng village near Mahikeng on 27 January.
“The woman allegedly left Rustenburg where she stayed with her sister to visit her boyfriend in Mahikeng in October 2022. That was the last time her family saw her alive.
“According to the information received, no missing person was reported. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage and no arrest has been made. Investigations into the matter are underway,” said Mokgwabone.
The Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane also expressed concerns about the growing number of cases where women are killed by their partners
“In the North West alone there are three other women who lost their lives at the hands of men, and we don’t see the anger and uproar of every South African to eradicate this pandemic.
“Women, children, and members of the LGBTQI community are under attack in this country and there is no corresponding power to stop this war as the numbers are increasing daily,” Nkoana-Mashabane said.
