Families urged to report relatives who commit GBV

January 13, 2025 28

Civil Rights group, #NotInMyName, is urging more families to start holding their loved ones accountable, especially when it comes to matters relating to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

#NotInMyName is reacting to the news of a 40-year-old man from the North West who was arrested after his family handed him over to the SAPS following the grim discovery of a 16-year-old Boingotlo Makaota’s body in a shallow grave last Friday.

“…a body, which was wrapped with a blanket and positively identified by a family member (uncle) as that of Boingotlo Makaota, of Matlhako 2 village. Preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that the body had visible wounds to the head and bruises to the thighs and legs. Further investigation was conducted at the suspect’s place where the victim’s clothes were found,” the police say in a statement.

#NotInMyName’s Themba Masaongo says the fight against GBVF would be won at a greater scale if families reported their loved ones.

Another rights group, Sonke Gender Justice, describes this case as a textbook case of statutory rape, which it says, is sadly not an isolated incident.

https://www.lawforall.co.za/family-relationships/sexual-consent-in-south-africa/#:~:text=What%20does%20the%20law%20say,is%2016%20years%20of%20age.

The organisation’s co-executive director, Bafana Khumalo, has praised the accused’s brother for taking action against him.

“The fact that the brother of the perpetrator turned him over to the police is a good sign. It is gratifying that members of the community also joined in the search for the young woman,” he adds.

Khumalo says the incident is a good lesson for communities about the importance of looking out for each other.

“If only we could see more in society taking this uncompromising stance in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions this will certainly contribute to bring down episodes of GBVF.”

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

Rate it