Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature have condemned the ongoing killing of women in South Africa and called for stronger action to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The debate comes amid widespread concern following the discovery of the bodies of several women on Johannesburg’s East Rand.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of the Legislature Hannah Lidgett says women should not be expected to limit their movements as a way of protecting themselves while perpetrators remain at large.
Lidgett has called on lawmakers to conduct oversight visits at police stations to ensure that cases of gender-based violence and femicide are being taken seriously.
She says the province cannot afford to treat the issue as business as usual, particularly given the high levels of violence against women reported in KwaZulu-Natal.
“This is a call to action to this house. You are leaders and you need to stand up and take action against gender-based violence and femicide that is happening on a daily basis in our country,” Lidgett says.
Meanwhile, fellow DA MPL Sakhile Mngadi says men have a collective responsibility to address violence against women and challenge toxic masculinity in communities.
During the debate, lawmakers also raised concerns about the measures women are forced to take to protect themselves, including changing their travel routes and sharing their locations with family members.
Mngadi says more attention needs to be placed on educating men about respecting and protecting women.
“Women in this country are dying and we are collectively failing them,” he says.
Mngadi says it is concerning that women cannot leave their homes for activities such as running without their families fearing for their safety.
The legislature has called for greater accountability and stronger interventions to address GBVF and improve the safety of women across the province and the country.