President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stern warning to those who are abusing women and children, saying the criminal justice system is not on leave during this lockdown.
In his weekly message, Ramaphosa also vowed that criminals vandalising schools and stealing Eskom cables will be brought to book.
The president said gender-based violence had become a global problem since the imposition of lockdowns to fight the spread of coronavirus.
He paid tribute to 74-year-old Ngenzeni Zuma, who raped and killed last month near her KwaZulu-Natal home by criminals posing as soldiers enforcing lockdown regulations.
Ramaphosa said he felt the pain of the family of 14-year-old Simphiwe Sibeko, whose body was found in the bushes last week, after she went missing from her home.
The president also paid tribute to constable Percy Ramalepe, who was shot and killed while attending to a domestic violence call in Johannesburg last week.
“It is disturbing that during a time of such immense difficulty for our country, women and girls are being terrorised inside their own homes, forcing them to make desperate calls for help. The number of calls to the GBV National Command Centre has increased since the lockdown began on 27 March,” he said.
“I have a message for those callous criminals who think they can take advantage. The criminal justice system is not on leave. Our law enforcement authorities will deal with those who transgress the law. You will be arrested, you will be tried and you will be put behind bars,” he added.
Ramaphosa said he had directed Police Minister Bheki Cele to ensure that Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units were reinforced at police stations throughout the lockdown.
He said the Steering Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was working with civil society to develop guidelines and protocols on management of gender based violence during lockdown.
“We recognise since people may not leave their homes, women and children in abusive situations are vulnerable. Survivors of violence may not have access to phones or airtime, or public transport to take them to a police station, shelter or a doctor,” he said.
