The Newcastle Municipality Mayor has called for all killers of women and children to be declared as having committed a crime against humanity and welcomed a group of cyclists who are taking part in a gender-based violence (GBV) awareness campaign.
The cyclists are riding from Soweto to Durban, with the aim of drawing attention to GBV, and headed to Newcastle High School on Tuesday, 21 September, where they addressed the learners. “As the Newcastle Local Municipality we have firmly thrown our full support behind this programme and have committed to bolster our efforts in the fight against GBV in Newcastle,” said Mayor Mahlaba. American academic and diplomat, Samantha Power, once said: “Violence against women isn’t cultural. Equality cannot come eventually; it is something that we must work for, now.” As we celebrate and commemorate Heritage Month, we need to consider that we have disregarded certain core values that exist within our culture and heritage. “The merciless, vile, cruel, despicable and senseless killing of women and children continues to fragment and divide our society. The protection of women and children is enshrined in all religious and cultural doctrines. The act of GBV is abnormal, alien and we need to confront it as speedily as possible. I humbly call upon men to lead this charge, as we did in the days of old when men knew that it was taboo to physically lay a hand on a helpless woman or child,” said Mayor Mahlaba. He went on to say that he boldly declares that anyone responsible for the senseless killing of women and children should be declared as having committed a crime against humanity. “These criminals need to be severely punished and removed from society for good. I will personally lead this daring and audacious feat until all sectors of society realise that this radical call is at a last resort in our fight against these heinous crimes,” he said.
Mayor Mahlaba said that it was unfortunate and shameful that the latest statistics indicate that over ten thousand women have been raped, abused, and murdered in the last three months. “These appalling figures do not reflect on the principal and fundamental values of any heritage or culture. Marcus Garvey once said that a people without knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Historically, men have been protectors of women and children, that is our origin. We need to instil this historical discourse of protection of women and reflect on the methods that our forefathers used to confront this abnormal behaviour,” he said. He further explained that as South Africans reflect, commemorate and celebrate unity and diversity, one should be reminded that traditional roots are the firm anchorage of our identity. “Let us unapologetically embrace our uniqueness, cultural differences and celebrate who we are. Let us continue to dispel and shun away voices that seek to divide us as a society,” said Mayor Mahlaba. He urged residents of Newcastle to deepen efforts of unity, and look beyond race and skin colour. “For it is only through this act that we can achieve a unified society that tolerates cultural differences,” he said. The Mayor has sounded a clarion call to the brave men of Newcastle, urging them to go back to their cultural and traditional roots; which means protecting women and children at all costs.
