EDITOR’S COMMENT
Of SA’s women, conspiracy theories and common sense “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” Unknown.
W
omen’s Month 2021 in SA In recognition of Women’s Month 2021 in South Africa, borne out of the 9 August 1956 march on the Union Buildings by more than 20,000 women protesting against pass laws, I decided to feature a double-page personality profile on some of the (many) female movers and shakers in the country’s security industry. Their inspiring stories will hopefully encourage more women to enter the sector, and in so doing, “add their weight to the struggle for freedom, justice and equality”, to quote President Cyril Ramaphosa in his speech on 9 August this year. The theme of this year’s Women’s Month was ‘Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future’, in support of a global campaign that’s aiming for gender equality by 2030. I was heartened by President Ramaphosa’s progress update on the National Strategic
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA AUGUST 2021
Plan, launched last year with the intention of ending gender-based violence and femicide. At the same time, sadly, the killing of women continued throughout the month. Among the victims were Nosicelo Mtebeni, a fourth-year student at the University of Fort Hare, and senior Gauteng Health Manager and whistle blower Babita Deokaran. “Widespread media attention given to the killing of Nosicelo Mtebeni once again drives home the reality that women are murdered daily in South Africa,” said the outraged Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in a statement1. “Most statistics point to a woman being murdered every three hours. Even during Women’s Month – a month dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women, and women’s contribution to South Africa’s growth – murders like this continue unabated.” In his formal release of the one-year progress report on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan, President
Ramaphosa said that although the launch had coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, measurable progress had been made. This includes the designation of 32 regional courts as sexual offences courts in various parts of the country, specialised training of about 3,500 family violence, child protection and sexual offences investigating officers, and the renovation or repurposing of 12 public buildings for use as shelters. “Work has been done to ensure that all police stations in our country have sexual assault evidence kits,” he added, and, “key legislation around domestic violence, bail and the sentencing of offenders, as well as broadening the scope of sexual offences and other matters is currently before Parliament.” The country’s courts are handing down harsh penalties and sentences to those found guilty of gender-based violence, sexual offence conviction rates are improving, and government will “soon
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