Department condemns recent brutal attacks on women and children

I strongly condemn the recent attacks on women and children in Cape Town.

In the past couple of weeks we have seen the brutal rape and murders of 13-year old Rene Roman (Lavender Hill), 11-year old Stacha Arendz (Tafelsig), the murder of 30-year old Vuyiseka Poni from Westlake allegedly by her husband, and recently, the body of a yet unidentified woman was found in a shallow grave in Grassy Park.

Violence against women and children should have no place in our society. I’m calling on all men, women and children to stand up and make their voices heard, if you see something, say something!

We must work better together if we are to end the domestic abuse in our homes, and the violent gender crime in our communities.

In each incident, the alleged suspects have been men who were known, and possibly trusted, by the victim. This is an outrage. I really appeal to fellow men in our communities to be better and do better. We must become better fathers, brothers and sons to the women in our lives.

I’m calling on parents and communities to be extra vigilant especially of children, who have recently started school holidays.

We all have a role to play as government, civil society, religious leaders, and families.

I commend the South African Police Services (SAPS) for the arrests they have made thus far, and would call on communities to support them to build solid cases and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book.

Our social workers and NGO partners will continue to provide psycho-social support and other interventions to the families, and stand with them during this difficult time. I am also contacting the families to offer my direct support.