KZN govt launches forum addressing gender-based violence
A forum is being introduced by local government to assist victims of gender-based violence during Women's Month.
Justice officials say the anti-femicide forum will provide victims with a safe platform to share their stories and concerns.
Women united across the country yesterday - against violence and abuse. They called on government to do more in order to protect women and children.
Protesters in Durban called for harsher sentences for perpetrators and victims to be taken seriously when they report the abuse. Asiya Khan, who's with the Department of Justice, says they'll announce more details on the forum soon.
"Women are killed by their intimate partners. We realise that we need to address it - we need to keep statistics and we need to start reporting on it. So in the month of August, to celebrate Women's Month, we as stakeholders can come to the table and start talking," Khan said.
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Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the campaign against gender-based violence needs to be intensified. He's personally accepted a memorandum of demands by #TotalShutDown marchers in Pretoria.
The president says his team will study the document very carefully, paying close attention to the solutions proposed to deal with women and child abuse.
He's promised to give feedback, saying that all the issues raised in the memorandum will be addressed.