Violence Against Women
Source: Times Live
Hundreds of Soweto residents gathered outside the unoccupied home of a mentally disabled gang-rape victim yesterday for a prayer service.
About 400 residents from Braamfischerville and Dobsonville joined a men's march organised by the ANC and local churches to protest over violence against women and children.
This comes after the 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by seven boys in March, two of whom are minors.
Vusi Makunyane, the ANC deputy chairman in the area, said: "The family has been moved to a place of safety after being hounded by the media following the reporting of the incident."
In a march led by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa's Young Men's Guild, men vowed to protect women and children from violence and abuse.
Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau, who was part of the march, urged communities to work together to curb violence against women and children.
"We are in talks with the police to patrol identified areas and to also work with community members.
"It is time that men take responsibility and stand up against the abuse of women and children," he said.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority is appealing a judgment by the Cape Town High Court on May 11 that ruled that 29 sexual offences provided for in the Sexual Offences Act may not constitute offences because of a lack of specific penalty guidelines.
This means that anyone accused of crimes in terms of these sections cannot be formally charged and those who have not yet appeared in court will be released.
Its spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said: "The police have also been asked not to make any arrests until a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal is made.
"Dockets will be opened and referred to senior public prosecutors, who will decide whether the charges can be substituted with other common law charges," he said.
Debbie Schafer, DA spokesman on Justice and Constitutional Development, accused the authority of being "aware of flaws in the legislation as early as 2010".
"This shows either gross incompetence or wilful obstruction of action against sexual offenders. Convictions since the passing of the act in 2008 are possibly in jeopardy," she said.