Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, has asked for a strong message to be given to perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), regardless of their social standing.
Nkoana-Mashabane issued the call following the arrest of ANC MP Sibusiso Kula for the suspected murder of his 31-year-old wife, Jennifer Motlhomi, who was stabbed to death in November 2022 at the couple’s house in Kanana, North West.
Friday in Klerksdorp, Kula was arrested and charged with the suspected murder of Motlhomi.
In a statement released before to Kula’s court appearance on Monday at the Orkney magistrate’s court, Nkoana-Mashabane urged the court to deny bail and warned offenders in positions of power that their abusive behavior will be dealt with the strongest opposition.
In a country where GBVF has been labeled a second epidemic, the minister stated that MPs who do not respect the rights and lives of women must incur the heaviest punishments.
Nkoana-Mashabane stated, “In North West alone, three more women have been murdered by men, and we do not see the anger and outrage of every South African to eradicate this pandemic.”
“Women, children, and members of the LGBTQI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer, intersex] community are under attack in this country, and there is no power to stop this war as the number of victims increases daily.”
She stated that during the second Presidential Summit on GBVF in 2022, the role of men as partners in ending GBVF was emphasized.
“Therefore, it is unacceptable for a member of parliament, who should be a role model and reflect positive masculinities that should be ingrained in all men and boys, to portray the most harmful kind of toxic masculinity.
“His [Kula’s] arrest now affords the justice system an opportunity to demonstrate that if such violence is perpetrated against women and children, the system will act swiftly and harshly to send a message to perpetrators, regardless of their social standing.”
She emphasized that the court system must demonstrate to the public that it stands for justice, especially in GBVF situations.
“The law must take its course, but the justice system must show no mercy when sentencing the perpetrator in cases of this nature.” “No one is above the law, and those who commit such heinous crimes must be punished severely,” she stated.
Kula’s court appearance follows a revelation that a suspect in the attempted murder of his girlfriend was given R500 bail by the Colesberg district court
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