Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
17 February 2025
Premier Ndlovu will launch the provincial GBVF structure on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, to intensify the fight against the pandemic at Graceland in Secunda.
The Mpumalanga Province is on a quest to eliminate gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, has declared GBVF a national crisis and a second pandemic.
Crime trends show an increase in cases where women are exposed to the brutality of violent partners.
An analysis of the 2023 crime statistics suggests a slow pace in the reduction of GBVF incidences.
In an effort to intensify the fight, the Mpumalanga Premier, Mr. Mandla Ndlovu, will launch a provincial
GBVF structure as one of the measures.
Recently, the Executive Council (EXCO) in Mpumalanga approved the Provincial Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (PSP-GBVF), and the launch is the latest measure in the efforts to intensify the fight.
The Premier says the launch affirms the provincial government’s commitment to fighting the GBVF.
pandemic, in the face of rising cases in Mpumalanga.
He says the statistics of sexual offenses, which increased from six hundred and forty-one (641) in March 2022 to seven hundred and forty-six (746) in March 2023, makes the establishment of the structure even more essential. “Through the provincial
structure, we are bringing together government, civil society, and the private sector to create a collective response to GBVF.
The structure will effectively coordinate all GBVF intervention programs in our quest to eliminate the pandemic,” he emphasized.
It is envisaged that the structure will develop an action plan for the implementation of the provincial Strategic Plan on GBVF, coordinate prevention measures, and facilitate strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, and revise the plans.
Premier Ndlovu says the launch of the GBVF structure is a pillar to make Mpumalanga safe, peaceful, and free from all its forms. Members of the Executive Council, Executive Mayors, Traditional Leaders,and members of the civil society are among those who will attend the function.
