Gender-based violence activist Bathandwa Ngomane says when victims have to wait longer than a year to have their cases finalised, government shows it does not have the will to help in the fight against the rape and abuse of women and children.
Ngomane told Sowetan that women are starting to ask if politicians from the governing ANC and the opposition in parliament are not in effect perpetrators of GBV, including rape.
“Look, the constitution has given more rights to perpetrators and less rights to victims. When we fight saying rapists must not be given bail their rights keep them out of jail and they end up committing the same offence. When we talk about the wait that victims have to bear – with postponements of their cases, which even keeps a case for a year without justice – is a sign that if the government and all the political parties in parliament had the will they can change and call for a change in the Criminal Procedure Act to protect women and children in the country,” Ngomane said.
A 38-year-old mother of a six-year-old girl from Maraffin village in Mbombela told Sowetan that her daughter – who was allegedly raped by two men, including her uncle – had been waiting for justice since February 5 2020, when the case was reported.
“My daughter says she was abused by these two people, doctors confirmed that and the people were released by the court because they are waiting for DNA results. As we speak my child still stays away from the family because we fear that the uncle might do something to her. And she cries when she sees any of them on the streets. Just because of the DNA, I believe my child will not get justice, I have lost hope,” said the mother.
Nomshado Ndlovu, who is working for Greater Rape Intervention Project, said they were dealing with about 13 cases at their centre in Mbombela. For more than a year they have been waiting for DNA results and for justice.
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