Limpopo Premier Condemns 'Inhumane Acts' Against Humanity

Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha on Thursday condemned inhumane acts against humanity, especially women and children.

Mathabatha's reaction came after an incident earlier this week when the dead body of an 18-year-old girl was found in an abandoned house at Mokomene, Ga-Thoka village, under the Botlokwa policing precinct.

"These inhumane acts seem to have continued to rise in the province, especially during the 2023 festive season. The province is mourning the deaths of women, children, and men whose precious lives were mercilessly cut short," Mathabatha said, SA News reported.

The premier highlighted another incident where Lebopo Circuit Manager Johannes Mehlape was gunned down in the Capricorn District during an alleged robbery.

"Enough is enough; we cannot let our lives continue to be cut short in this manner. I implore all to work with the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of these atrocities are arrested," Mathabatha said.

"Let us join hands in combating these barbaric acts and uproot them in our communities," he added, urging citizens to not ignore the crime and instead report to the officials immediately in order to punish the criminals.

Two months back, when the United Nations kicked off the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign on Nov. 25, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South African men and boys to break the cycle of violence.

The president said most of the gender-based violence cases include sexual violence and domestic abuse, where the attacker was known to the victim.

The same day Ramaphosa urged to break the cycle of violence, KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department's three female security officers were raped by heavily armed criminals who broke into the agency's offices in Merebank, Durban.

The South African government has adopted a National Strategic Plan to fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

The government is continuously engaging with traditional leaders, civil society, academia and researchers, faith communities, youth organizations and the private sector to combat gender-based violence.

As far as security in South Africa is concerned, Ramaphosa last month welcomed 1,400 new police recruits to strengthen the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the nation's fight against crime.