Wednesday, 8 December 2021
Abahlali baseMjondolo Women’s League Press Statement
An Important Victory in the Struggle Against GBV
Truth never damages a cause that is just. Law is not law, if it violates the principles of eternal and universal justice.
The Abahlali Women’s League celebrated a tremendous victory on the 6th of December 2021 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The serial rapist, Msomi, who is 31 years of age, received a sentence of 123 years and 5 life sentences in prison for the rape of more than 60 women. One of these women is a very senior leader of AbM.
Our leader had been severely assaulted in 2013. After the attack she went to RK Khan Hospital for medical help, only to find that the doctor responsible for the Thuthuzela Care Centre was not available on the day. She couldn’t open a case with the police because there was no doctor’s report. The victim had been traumatized all these years and did not receive support until 2019.
Every year during the 16 Days of Activism between 25 November and 10 December we organise workshops to build women’s solidarity around GBV and to provide practical support to victims. In 2019 she was part of one of these workshops and was referred onto to Lifeline Durban where she received psychological support and was further advises how to receive medical help and achieve justice.
When, after serious pressure against the state, Msomi was final arrested earlier this year 21 woman stood firm at the Durban High Court from and became state witnesses against the perpetrator. The others were frightened for their lives and chose not to be witnesses.
We as the Abahlali Women’s League organised to support the women. Beginning in July, when the matter first went to court, we launched a picket at the High Court in support of all the women. The picket was set to pressure the court to serve justice to our leader and the to all the other women.
Most rapes are not reported and most rapes that are reported are never prosecuted. This was an important victory.
We are inviting all women everywhere to organise to build women’s power in struggle and to break the silence of GBV which is a global pandemic.
We demand that the government of South Africa take Gender Based Violence cases as a priority. There are many problems with the justice system. One that is delaying cases for years is the backlog in processing DNA evidence. When there is no DNA evidence there is no case. The government must invest enough money into the justice system to resolve this problem, and take measures to stop corruption so that the money is actually used for what it is allocated for.
All progressive organisations in South Africa must work together to build a strong platform to struggle against GBV. Building women’s power and defending women’s autonomy must be at the heart of all radical politics.
#WeAreAPriority.
#StopGBV
#BreakTheSilence
#Women’sRights
Nomusa Sizani 081 005 3686
Zandile Nsibande 073 611 8279
OJ Majola 063 181 9997