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Activists Demand Urgent Action as Over 200 Rape Cases Reported in One Week
Calls are growing for the South African government to enforce a zero-tolerance policy and strengthen preventative measures to curb gender-based violence, particularly against women and children.
This follows the release of alarming crime statistics by the South African Police Service (SAPS), revealing that more than 200 rape cases were reported nationwide between 31 March and 6 April. Many of the victims were children, with some as young as four years old.
Also Read: Community March in Soweto Over Alleged School Rape in Eastern Cape
Caroline Peters, director of the Callas Foundation and a prominent GBV activist, said urgent reforms are needed to protect vulnerable groups.
“Prevention must start earlier. Consent education should be part of the school curriculum, and communities must speak up even before the headlines. There must be zero tolerance for those who protect or enable abusers,” she said.
Peters also stressed the importance of prioritising survivors’ rights and child safety: “We are tired of burying our children. We are tired of reading the same horror stories every week. Survivors deserve justice, and children deserve safety.”
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Sourced:EWN
Picture: SABC-News-Gender
