Today during a session of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the FF Plus asked the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, to submit an integrated anti-gender-violence action plan to President Ramaphosa.
Makhura was, furthermore, asked to take a group of delegates with him. Such a plan could go further and achieve more than mere discussions, gatherings and committee meetings.
If this request does not bring about the desired outcome, the people of Gauteng are ready to gather in their masses, like this past Saturday, to raise international awareness.
The FF Plus hopes that the statistics on gender violence and the government's apparent inability to address the problem will be enough to make them realise that empty words are not enough.
What is needed is a drastic and immediate change in the approach to gender violence, improved legislation and more serious punishments, otherwise, the government will be complicit in every victim's tears, desperate prayers and silent humiliation.
Every woman in Gauteng who bears the scars of gender violence, emotional abuse and hurt now needs a leader who will take decisive action against gender violence.
Gender violence does not only entail physical and emotional pain, but it also has an impact on the morale of the family and the surrounding community. It is a reflection of the country's leadership.
The FF Plus will keep putting pressure on the Premier to heed the cries of the victims of gender violence and to draw up and implement a feasible plan to address it. Gauteng must take the lead in taking decisive action against gender violence and in making it a priority in South Africa.
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