President Ramaphosa Addresses ‘Callous’ Crimes in Latest Letter to South Africans

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s says he has a message for those “callous criminals” trying to take advantage during Lockdown. “The criminal justice system is not on leave,” the President tweeted on Monday morning. “You will be arrested, you will be tried and you will be put behind bars.”

In the President’s latest letter to fellow South Africans, he said the majority of South Africans have responded well since the nation-wide lockdown was enforced on Friday 27 March, appreciating it’s in the “best interests of all”.

However, he said, “there are some among us seeking to exploit this crisis for their own sinister ends”.

Schools destroyed

The President said: “It is a great indictment of our society that dozens of schools have been burgled, trashed or burnt to the ground.

“When the lockdown is lifted and learning resumes, thousands of our children will have no school to return to, depriving them of the right to education.

Eskom-related thefts

“Eskom has also reported an increase in cable theft and vandalism of its infrastructure since the lockdown began, resulting in power supply interruptions and damage that will cost a considerable amount to repair.”

The Presidented lamented the “utter disrespect and disregard” of these vandals for the majority of law-abiding South Africans; and said “it is despicable that criminals are using this period of the lockdown as a cover to break the law at a time when our law-enforcement authorities are occupied with supporting the national effort to contain the pandemic.”

Criminals prey on weak and vulnerable in SA

The criminals are unfortunately also “preying on the weak and vulnerable”, said President Ramaphosa.

“Our hearts go out to the family of Mama Ngenzeni Zuma who was raped and killed in KwaZulu-Natal last month by men who allegedly pretended to be soldiers to gain entry into her home.

“We feel the pain of the family of 14-year-old Simphiwe Sibeko who went missing from her Soweto home, and whose body was found dumped in bushes last week.

“As a nation, we are saddened at the death of Constable Percy Ramalepe who was shot and killed while attending to a domestic violence call in Johannesburg last week.”

Calls to GBV Centre increased since lockdown

The number of calls to the GBV National Command Centre has increased since the lockdown began on 27 March, said the President, saying “women and girls are being terrorised inside their own homes”.

The problem is not just a South African one. Last week the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said since restrictions were imposed by countries around the world to contain the coronavirus, women and girls were increasingly facing violence “where they should be safest: in their own homes”…  in a “horrifying global surge in domestic violence”, with the number of calls for help doubling in some countries.

The President says South Africa continues to implement the Emergency Response Plan (for GBV violence, announced last year), and that support services to vulnerable women and children remain operational throughout the lockdown. The Gender-Based Violence National Command Centre remains operational.

“I have directed the Minister of Police to ensure that Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units are reinforced at police stations during the lockdown and beyond,” he said.

Guidelines are being developed for those women and children in abusive situations who cannot leave home, or do not have access to phones, airtime or transport to seek help.

Swift arrests

The President commended law-enforcement officials for their swift arrest of suspects in the recent murders of the two women.

“They should also be commended for arresting and charging 148 suspects for crimes of gender-based violence since the start of the lockdown,” he said.

Report crimes

The President called on communities to report vandalism as these acts “seldom take place in the absence of witnesses”.

“When communities allow themselves to be passive bystanders when they witness crime, they become party to the sabotage that ultimately disadvantages ourselves, our children and our communities,” he pointed out.

Message for criminals

“I have a message for those callous criminals who think they can take advantage. The criminal justice system is not on leave. Our law enforcement authorities will deal with those who transgress the law. You will be arrested, you will be tried and you will be put behind bars,” said President Ramaphosa.

He also called on the men of SA and all citizens to play their part to combat gender-based violence, and provide support to survivors.

“Some have called for a gender-based violence ‘ceasefire’ during the time of pandemic. This is not enough. We want to see it end, once and for all,” said Ramaphosa.

The Gender-Based Violence National Command Centre can be reached on 0800 428 428.