Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Mabuyane, has painted a bleak picture of violence against women in the province.
Speaking in the Legislature on Thursday during a debate on violence against women and femicide, Mabuyane said that statistics for the 2017/2018 financial year show that more than 8094 cases of sexual assault were reported and a further 6 836 rapes were recorded in the province.
He said he was also certain that "even in the 3815 murder cases that were reported, women were the notable victims."
"The statistics for the 2018/19 are not yet out, but I don't think they will be too much different from this picture. Honourable Members if what I have just shared with you is not war against women I don't know what is," Mabuyane lamented.
The Premier said that there are faces to these numbers, adding that they also represent the young girls who are married off in the "predatory practice of uKuthwala in certain parts of our Province."
"They represent the young girls who are lured into a life of sexual slaves by unscrupulous men who pose as Christians," he continued.
Premier Mabuyane said while calls are being made for certain Constitutional amendments, he said a case could be made to change certain aspects of the criminal justice system, which relates to punishment for crimes committed against women, children, and the police.
