HOSPERSA CALLS FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP TO END SOUTH AFRICA’S WAVE OF VIOLENT CRIMES
Hospersa is calling upon all South Africans to unite in the spirit of active citizenship to end the wave of violent crimes that have rocked the country since last week. Aside from the xenophobic attacks on foreign migrants and the looting of shops, the country has also been rocked by several devastating news of Gender Based Violence where the murders of two women made headlines. The Union has also called on President Ramaphosa to take lead as the country’s first citizen and not allow business to continue as usual while crimes are being committed at such an alarming rate and manner.
South Africa has been rocked by a wave of violent protests, seemingly targeted at foreign migrants since last week when taxi drivers in Pretoria took to the streets after a taxi driver was shot, allegedly by a drug dealer. This incident sparked a wave of unrest in several of Gauteng’s Central Business Districts (CBDs) whereby several shops have been looted while five (5) people have been confirmed dead. More than ninety (90) people have been arrested in connection with the violence and looting of shops which rocked the nation this week.
“Hospersa strongly condemns the recent xenophobic attacks and looting of shops,” said Hospersa Public Relations Officer, Kevin Halama. “We call on all South Africans to desist participating in this shameful violent act which threatens to undermine the country’s democracy as well as relations with other African countries. These violent protests have cast a dark cloud on our convictions as a rainbow nation and should not be tolerated,” added Halama.
The wave of violent crimes in the country did not end there as news of two women who were brutally murdered also made headlines. University of Cape Town (UCT) and the country as a whole is seething after the rape and murder of nineteen (19) year old UCT student, Uyinene Mrwetyana. The main suspect is a Post Office employee who has reportedly confessed to the crime and faces charges of murder, rape and defeating the ends of justice. Another incident which again brought Gender Based Violence (GBV) to the fore is the shooting and murder of woman boxing champion Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels las week Friday. Her boyfriend, Bulelani Manyakama, was arrested for the murder after he was involved in a head-on car accident collision a few hours after the shooting occurred. He has since succumbed to death following head injuries sustained in the car accident.
According to the South African Demographic and Health Survey 2016 Key Indicators Report released on 15 May 2017 by Statistics SA, one in every five South African women older than 18 years has experienced physical violence. However, this figure has seemingly increased as GBV crimes have grabbed the spotlight on a regular basis.
“We are deeply concerned by the high levels of GBV in the country,” said Halama. “GBV is a national crisis which needs urgent intervention as the country’s femicide rate now sits at five times higher than the global average. What is also very alarming is that at least three women die at the hands of their partners on daily basis,” added Halama
“As a Union with many female members, we strongly condemn GBV and we throw our weight behind any action that seeks to address these alarming levels,” said Halama. “It is high time that we, as a nation, rise up against the scourge of GBV and put pressure on government as well as the judiciary to send a bold statement to perpetrators of this senseless crime” added Halama.
“It is also time for all South Africans to unite and stamp out all acts of criminality in our communities. We call on President Ramaphosa to deliver on his promise of a new dawn by actively speaking out against violent crimes and for his government to put programmes in place which seek to address these violent crimes. It should not be business as usual when his new dawn has quickly become midnight while we sit and watch on,” concluded Halama.
.