President Cyril Ramaphosa has termed gender-based violence a national crisis.
In a Women's Day address in Vryburg, in North West on Friday, he said it was the worst form of desecration of the Constitution and its promise of gender equality.
Ramaphosa said the phenomenon appeared to defy government's efforts to fight the abuse of women, including passing legislation, creating specialised courts and police units, and setting up shelters to house victims.
He said a gender-based violence steering committee would soon begin provincial consultations on a national strategic plan to end gender-based violence, and the department of justice was in the process of amending the national policy framework on the management of sexual offences.
The president said Government was also reviewing the Domestic Violence Act, to strengthen its provisions around domestic homicide and the enforcement of protection orders.
- African News Agency
