Press release
Immediate release
CA1st’s Position On Gender Based Violence
19 October 2021
As the world edges towards its second year of life with Covid-19, South Africans remain caught in the grips of another full-blown pandemic – one that has seen an alarming increase as various lockdown measures came into place over the past 19 months. With murder and rape on the rise, cases of Gender-based Violence (GBV) continue to plague our communities, leaving the most vulnerable at risk.
According to the last report released by Police Minister Bheki Cele, just over 10 000 people were raped between April and June 2021 – an increase of roughly 4200 cases since the minister’s previous report.
The Credible Alternative First Movement calls on all stakeholders to commit to a collective effort to bring to an end the violence against women, children and members of the LGBTQI community.
“In 2016 – as the SA First Forum – we got together to say, ‘Enough is enough!’ recalls CA1st mayoral candidate, Adv. Rod Solomons. “We could no longer stomach the policies and processes of government, at all levels, that served only to deepen inequality, rather than reduce it.”
“Women have a right to equality, in all spheres of life,” Solomons continues. “This means nothing if it is not actively fought for. All forms of gender prejudice and gender oppression, including systemic gender oppression, should be identified and weeded out.”
“The scourge of South African society remains gender-based violence, and the combating and elimination of thereof, is a prerequisite to the ongoing pursuit of equality and equity of women.”
The party has made a pledge to not only utilise the City’s resources to combat GBV, but also to provide shelter and security to women and girls who fall victim to such crimes.
“We have to keep moving forward,” Solomons demands. “We have to keep fighting these cowards who are killing our women and children, and we will not rest until our women and children live in a safe environment, free of domestic and gender-based violence.”
Issued by Shireen Fisher, Media Officer
Contact: 067 206 5837