The Cabinet has approved a 90-day intensification programme aimed at urgently dealing with a surge in gender-based violence and murder (GBVF) across the country.
The initiative, led by Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) clusters, outlines 19 focus areas and specific deliverables to be implemented over the next three months with the aim of changing and reversing the upward trend in the country’s GBVF.
The plan was adopted at a recent meeting of Ministers of JCPS Cluster, convened in direct response to the surprising rise in GBVF-related cases. Short-term interventions are designed to accelerate progress on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF.
Minister of presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, addressed a post-cabinet media briefing on Thursday, saying the programme would serve as a catalyst for immediate action.
“National Joint Operations and Information Structures (NatJoints) have established a priority committee consisting of eight focused workstreams. The priority committee has identified six urgent and impactful interventions to be implemented over 90 days,” Ntshavheni said.
The six interventions are:
Prevention: Focus on education and awareness of behavioral change among all South Africans. “Enforcement, care, and support that must ensure that the “strengthening of the criminal justice system will be strengthened” so that the perpetrators are held liable. Modify legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the system achieves better results. Closer and more efficient management of data and information to enhance the efficiency of an integrated judicial system. Communication, partnerships, and community mobilization ensure that governments, civil society, and citizens as a whole work together to utilize both financial and human resources to ensure that we are better organized as a society to fight scourge. Sign up for the AllAfrica newsletter for free
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Support for NPA appeal in Omotoso cases
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has welcomed and noted the decision of the National Prosecutors Authority (NPA) to appeal the recent acquittal of Timothy Omotoso and his two co-instructors Rusanda Surani and Zukiswa Sytoho.
The trio was acquitted last month of 32 serious charges, including rape, assault and human trafficking, at GQEBERHA High Court.
Ntshavheni said the appeal decision would follow a thorough review of the issue by an NPA internal team of experienced prosecutors and legal opinions from senior lawyers.
