#NotInMyName: Crises facing SA women mustn’t be used as electioneering tactic
Social movement #NotInMyName International says there is an urgent need for the government to implement measures to protect the rights of women street vendors.
During his keynote address on Women's Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa said many new laws have been introduced to curb gender-based violence.
"Effective from earlier this month, no police bail may be granted to persons charged with rape or if the victim was in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator. Such bail applications must be formally applied for in court. If the accused was in a domestic relationship with the alleged victim, the court has to issue a protection order against them before releasing them on bail.
"Also effective from earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest," said Ramaphosa.
#NotInMyName’s Nwabisa Sigaba said Ramaphosa should have included the plight of women street vendors in his speech since they face constant harassment from police and confiscation of goods.
"We are concerned about the gender wage gap that seems too prevalent in South Africa, which has shown visibly in sports such as soccer. Although the president acknowledged the existence of this wage gap, he provided very few solutions to how it will be addressed.
"We will be keeping a close eye on the developments of these decisions and promises made by the president and will surely hold him and his cabinet to account should this be an electioneering tactic in order to campaign for votes in next year’s election," said Sigaba.
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