Sawt Falasteen - Declare gender violence in S.Africa a national disaster, campaigners say

Gender-based violence is endemic in the economic powerhouse where one in three women experiences physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to UN figures.

The rally -- one of many organised across the country on Friday -- marched to the Union Buildings, the majestic seat of government that adjoins the presidential palace in the capital Pretoria.

They handed a petition to the government which was received by a deputy minister.

Counting the black-clad Miss South Africa Mia le Roux within their ranks, they booed, chanted and waved placards reading slogans such as "My body is not a crime scene!".

"It is time for change. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and nothing happens," said Siphiwe George, founder of a group called Women Waging War, who drove nine hours to join the protest.

Declaring the violence a national disaster "will open up a whole new level of how we can fight this scourge", she told AFP, saying it would release funds for shelters for victims.

South Africa, a nation of 62 million people, has some of the highest rates of violence against women and children in the world, according to the UN agency, UN Women.

On average, at least 129 rapes are reported daily, according to the latest police data which does not specify the gender of the victims.

- Violence 'a pandemic' -

"We are the rape capital of the world. Our statistics are horrific," Women for Change spokesperson Bulelwa Adonis told AFP.

"Our country has showcased so many times that this is a pandemic," she said. "It's time that it's declared a national disaster because enough is enough."

In one of the latest cases to anger the country, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped at her school last year but no arrests have yet been made.

The case gained nationwide attention only last month, after her mother revealed the details in a podcast and local media.

Witney Stander, whose sister was killed in 2023, said the time had come for perpetrators to be held to account.

"We just want some accountability and some action to be taken," she told AFP.

Ntombifuthi Stander also demanded that police do more to tame the violence. Recalling the day her daughter was killed, she said police "refused to come out and help us".

"We are crying... that day was a nightmare," Stander said.

Action has long been promised.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday there was an urgent need to address legal blind spots that worked against the rights and interests of survivors of gender violence.

"Laws cannot just be written, they must be enforced," he told a conference of women judges.

"Perpetrators must be held accountable, and the sentences they are given should reflect the seriousness of their crimes."

K.AbuDahab--SF-PST