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‘Slap a woman, go to jail’ – Mbalula at launch of app for victims of violence

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Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini (left) and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (centre). Picture: Twitter/@mandlamZA
Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini (left) and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (centre). Picture: Twitter/@mandlamZA

Presidential hopeful and former chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says gender-based violence is a global problem, not just in South Africa.

Speaking during the launch of People Opposing Women Abuse’s mobile app, Dlamini-Zuma said gender-based violence must not be isolated to South Africa.

“I think we must look at this not as a South African issue; it’s a global issue.

“In South Africa the oppression is very deep and women, as we all know, suffer triple oppression in terms of race, class and also gender.

“We have a struggle that is not over because women have not been completely emancipated. It’s not in terms of gender-based violence, but in terms of education and the economy,” she said

Dlamini-Zuma was part of a panel discussion on gender-based violence at Constitutional Hill this morning.

Other panellists included Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and Powa executive director Nhlanhla Mokwena.

Powa, a women’s rights organisation, says the app will provide victims of gender-based violence with information and the quickest access to services.

Powa says that a large number of gender-based violence incidents are under-reported – a result of a lack of information.

Mokwena said it was important for women to be made aware of their rights.

“Lack of information makes women not report [these incidents] because they’re not aware of their rights. They’re not aware that if you’re mistreated you have a right to report the matter.

Dlamini-Zuma added that society had a large role to play at solving the nationwide problem.

“We all have to play our part. Parents have to play their part at home because kids will always bring back as adults what they learnt and what society gave them as children,” she said.

“In our communities and churches ... this matter must be discussed all the time until it’s over. To change the law on papers is easy, but to change the attitude in our society isn’t easy.”

Asked whether action would be taken against perpetrators regardless of their social or political standard, Mbalula referred to the recent assault case of retired football player Marks Maponyane.

“I must never be caught in an act of abusing women because of my position. The law must take its course. You slap a woman, you go to jail,” he said.

Dlamini took the moment to call out the bias in the media and to clarify her stance on gender-based violence.

“I want to try and be very calm. A lot has been said since the article released by Sunday Times. [I] unequivocally stand against any form of abuse against women.

“I’ve heard that while we were talking with the journalist, he was recording the discussion.

He never asked for permission from me and I’m going to demand that he apologises for that.

"They never asked for permission to release that recording ... they push us at all times into the corner,” she said.

“When [media] put the stories of women that are good to page three or four or five, they only put stories of women on page one when there is something they want to do to destroy that woman.

“[Media] don’t be selective. Noise must be made with the same level of disgust, consistently. Women abuse must become taboo. No one must get away with it because they are friends of the media,” she said.

She added that the app was an important initiative which the department fully supported.

“When you’re at home and you’re in danger, you can call a green door or white door and ask for an overnight shelter,” Powa’s Mokwena said in explaining how the app works.

The green and white doors are places of safety on the app.

The app also links users to a command centre where social workers are on hand to help.

The free app is available on Android and iOS devices.

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