16 Days Of Activism marred by ongoing gender-based violence

Social cohesion advocate, Yusuf Abramjee, took to Twitter on Wednesday 27 November to say, that following cruel acts of gender-based violence, the campaign, 16 Days of Activism is just not enough and harsher laws should be put in place.

Abramjee’s tweet read: “16 days of activism: 81-year-old woman found with throat slit in Eastern Cape. The student murdered in Limpopo. I can go on & on. The 16 days awareness is good but we need more. We need laws to be implemented & harsh punishment. Make life in prison LIFE & not 25 years. Enough talking!”

Replies to Abramjee’s tweet 

Twitter users responded to Abramjee saying that they agree with him and that 25 lousy years in prison means nothing after gender-based violence.

The replies read: 

“I am of the view that government is not doing enough especially the law enforcement agencies…you’ll be lucky if you get justice in this country. We enough with the rhetoric we need justice for our mothers & sisters…”

“I agree with you on that 1, make life in prison life in prison, not 25 lousy yrs!”

Another user said the death penalty should be brought back for the people committing gender-based violence against women and children.

“#deathpenalty #BringBackTheDeathPenalty Show them no mercy, what did an 81-year-old lady do to anyone? Sick bastards”

Brutal incidents of gender-based violence in recent months 

When Abramjee refers to the campaign 16 Days Of Activism not doing enough, he refers to the inundation of brutal crimes against women and children that have taken place in the last few months alone.  

Uyinene Mrwetyana, Leighandre Jegels, Janika Mallo, Ayakha Jiyane, her three little siblings and Jesse Hess were some of the victims of gender-based violence and were brutally raped, murdered, or both, in recent months. 

In the last week, an 81-year-old woman’s throat was slit in the Eastern Cape and a student, Precious Ramabulana, 21, was found dead in her room off-campus after allegedly being raped and stabbed 52 times. 

Ramaphosa on gender-based violence 

According to EWN, The Presidency’s Khusela Diko said Ramaphosa was angry about Ramabulana’s murder and the sweep of gender-based violence across the nation.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his horror and outrage at the murder of Precious Ramabulana. He has directed the minister of police to bring her killer to book,” said Diko.

In a statement the president expressed his outrage on gender-based violence taking place in the country.

“The savagery inflicted on this young woman, she was reportedly stabbed 52 times, points to a level of depravity that is beyond the comprehensible.”