Today, the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network in the North West attended the wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Lizette and Hettie Deacon in Klerksdorp. Lizette Deacon and her mother, Hettie, were tragically killed in their home in Welgelegen, near the Cycad Estate in Polokwane on 10 September 2020. The DA Women’s Network extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lizette and Hettie Deacon.
The gruesome murder of Lizette and Hettie is yet another unnecessary and avoidable example of how unsafe women in South Africa are. It is no longer enough for the government to condemn the abuse and senseless killing of women.
Effective programmes to combat gender-based violence must be implemented and the necessary resources made available to ensure success.
DAWN would like to see programmes in communities across South Africa that focusses on eradicating and preventing incidents of gender-based violence.
We would like to see a societal approach with support from Cultural and Religious Organisations, Community Organisations, together with government and NGOs, work in communities, specifically with young boys and men to change chauvinistic attitudes towards young girls and women before they get a foothold and become culturally ingrained.
The protection of women and children should not just be prioritized during Women’s Month or during 16 Days of Activism in November and December, but efforts should extend throughout the year, every day, in every community, in every school, and every place of worship. Specifically, police stations and police officers need to be equipped and properly trained to accommodate victims of gender-based violence with empathy and support, while social workers should be available to offer additional assistance and counselling. The SAPS should have a dedicated unit that investigates crimes against women and children to ensure that when these crimes are reported, that the criminals are apprehended and successfully prosecuted.
Women and children have a right to live lives free from fear. And it is the government’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that they are protected and kept safe from harm.
The DA will continue to hold government accountable to its constitutional obligations and we will continue to lobby for policies and programmes that prioritize the safety of women in our country. Media Enquiries:
Cllr Bea Campbell-Cloete
DA Women’s Network North West Provincial Chairperson
063 404 2786
Idah Satikhe
DA North West Communications Officer
079 700 5382