- Urgent Police Action Needed: The Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities is urging SAPS to quickly identify and locate two men seen assaulting women in a viral video, highlighting the urgency of addressing such violence.
- Call for Community Assistance: The Department emphasizes the importance of all South Africans aiding police efforts to find the suspects, recognizing that community involvement is crucial in combating gender-based violence.
- Condemnation of Gender-Based Violence: The Department strongly condemns ongoing abuse of women, which damages human rights, societal stability, and hampers national progress, calling for immediate action across sectors.
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is urging the South African Police Service (SAPS) to urgently locate two men seen in a viral social media video assaulting two women while accusing them of theft. The footage shows the women pleading for help as the men physically attack them.
The Department is calling on all South Africans to assist police in identifying and finding the suspects, emphasising that such acts violate the rights and dignity of women and must be dealt with urgently.
In a strong statement, the Department expressed deep concern and condemnation over the ongoing abuse of women in homes, workplaces, and society at large. It said these violations from gender-based violence to economic exclusion and discrimination continue to undermine national progress, democracy, and social cohesion.
The Department called on multiple sectors to act: Government and law enforcement must enforce laws without fear or favour and provide fast, fair justice, Civil society must raise awareness, support victims, and demand accountability, the private sector should guarantee fair pay, safety, and equal opportunity for women, communities and individuals must challenge harmful norms and report abuse.
It added that protecting women is not just a women’s issue but a human rights obligation. All women deserve to live without fear, reach their full potential, and have their rights respected in every part of life.
