THE NORTHERN Cape DA Women’s Network (Dawn) will be adding its voice to calls for an end to gender-based violence when the bail application of the local rugby player who is accused of killing his girlfriend, before slitting his own throat, continues this morning.
This follows the death of 28-year-old, Refilwe Letebele, who was fatally stabbed in an apparent domestic altercation.
Two weeks after the incident, the accused and former fiancé of the deceased, Siyanda Gxwati, is expected to apply for bail this morning when he appears in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.
Loved ones of the deceased, activists and protesters are likely to again fill the public gallery, calling for an end to gender-based violence.
Among those who have confirmed their attendance for this morning’s proceedings are the provincial chairperson of Dawn in the Northern Cape, Safiyia Stanfley, who yesterday urged the general public to take a stand against violence, particularly against women and children.
“We ask the court to send a strong message that those who abuse our women and children are not welcome in our communities,” she said.
“We simply cannot allow that the young women in our society are still just statistics in our ongoing struggle against gender-based violence.”
Stanfley pointed out that according to Stats SA’s 2016 Community Health survey, one in every six South African women are regularly abused by their partners, making domestic violence one of the most widespread human rights abuses in the country.
“We must stand together as a caring society, embarking on a campaign of 365 days of activism against abuse and ending the scourge of murder, assault and sexual violence that preys on our people.”
Gxwati, who had multiple staples across the entire front of his throat at his first court appearance earlier in the week, saw his bail hearing remanded until this morning, when the State is expected to oppose the schedule five application.