THE NATIONAL police commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has vowed to implement an action plan to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.

Sithole was speaking during a dialogue hosted by the SAPS to address issues relating to the capacity of the police to overcome the GBV crisis in the country.

The panel of speakers, led by Sitole, included youth entities – the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the South African Youth Council, the National Youth Crime Prevention (NYCP) organisation, Peace, Safety and Security organisation and other key stakeholders.

The entities presented the challenges they are faced with and proposed solutions.

Nontsikelelo Khawula from the NYDA highlighted that perpetrators needed to face the consequences of their actions.

“Some perpetrators are hidden by family members and the family believes that they can sort it out as a family. If perpetrators carry on as normal, they will not understand the extent of their actions,” said Nhlanhla Sizani from Peace Safety and Security.

Lungelo Zulu from the NYCP said more groundwork was needed to eradicate GBV, which has been declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa as being a second pandemic alongside the Covid19 pandemic.

“It is about time we groom boy children as much as we groom girl children. Perpetrators are mostly men who turn out to assault women, so programmes should be aimed equally at both genders.

“We need less dialogue and more implementation. We need to talk less and do more.

“We need conducive and safe police stations where it is safe to report anyone and anything. Churches need to step up and play a role in fighting against GBV, and speak up against this pandemic in their sermons,” Zulu said.

Sitole vowed to implement the strategies discussed, and called for the formation of committees over the next seven days following the dialogue.

“These committees will oversee the execution of a solid action plan, and these programmes are expected to deliver a progress report within three months,” he said.

Sitole gave panel members seven days to form committees to look at youth-crime prevention, a stabilisation action plan and a GBV outreach programme.

In closing remarks, the deputy national police commissioner, Liziwe Ntshinga, urged all citizens to actively participate in the fight against GBV.

“We need people to come out and call out perpetrators,” she said.

Nonhlanhla Nozizwe Hlatshwayo

SA police commissioner to implement action plan to combat GBV, femicide