President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South Africa is now not only hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also a wave of rape and sexual harassment.
Ramaphosa made this statement after receiving reports that more than 100 rapes occur in South Africa every day. The crime rate data also shows an increase in rapes of seven percent, with details of 9,556 women being raped between July and September.
"This rape is the second pandemic [after Covid]. We are in an endless war against the bodies of women and children, where even though we have fought hard, there are no signs of improvement," said Ramaphosa,
He then said, "If the character of a nation is judged by how they treat women and children, then we are very left behind."
The rape and harassment of women has long been a major scourge in South Africa. In recent months, activists have become more active. The cases that have been found recently are indeed getting more and more gruesome. For example, one student was found dead after being raped. She was mutilated and her body parts were put in a suitcase. Another student was raped and then beaten with a factory scale until he died at a post office. In another area, a woman who was eight months pregnant was hung from a tree.
"We can't ignore what we're seeing until there is justice," said activist Julie Ngoyama.
To promote the anti-rape campaign, Ngoyama and his group were willing to go to people's homes. They knocked on the door and sat with the residents. Ngoyama patiently gave an understanding of respect for women.
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