The streets of Cape Town reverberated with chants for justice as we marched to the Department of Basic Education in the city center, demanding accountability and urgent action in response to the harrowing ordeal of a young child named Cwecwe.
Students, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and political organizations stood united in outrage and determination. The #JusticeForCwecwe march was more than a call for justice—it was a resolute stand against the epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV) that continues to devastate lives across South Africa.
As a proud member of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), I attended the march representing a party that has consistently stood firm on issues affecting women and children.
The IFP has just celebrated 50 years of resilience, service, and integrity. Throughout our history, we have remained relentless in our fight against GBV, ensuring that women and children are protected from the violence that plagues our society.
This fight is ongoing, and we will not waver.
From our 2024 manifesto, we have made it clear: The IFP believes that immediate and radical reform is required to strengthen the justice system services. That as the IFP will take bold measures to protect women, children, and the most vulnerable.
Our solutions include working with communities to end crime by strengthening community policing forums and providing safe channels for citizens to report criminal activity. We support traditional courts and an enhanced role for traditional leadership in provincial and local governance to achieve greater peace and security.
The IFP has also called for a national debate on the reinstatement of the death penalty to deter violent crimes. We believe that legislation must be revisited to ensure that bail is denied to perpetrators of violence against women and children.
Special courts dedicated to Corruption and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) must be fully operational. Dedicated SAPS officers, trained specifically to deal with GBVF, must be stationed at all police stations where these crimes are rampant.
Survivors of GBV must be able to easily access the services they need. Furthermore, we are committed to intensifying training and support for SAPS officers, increasing resources, and enhancing existing SAPS infrastructure, equipment, and technology so that law enforcement personnel are fully capacitated to carry out their mandate.
Cwecwe, a seven-year-old child, was raped at her school in the Eastern Cape—a place that should have been a safe space for learning and growth. Her case is a painful reminder that GBV is not confined to one province or community—it is a national emergency. Her tragic experience resonates with countless victims in the Western Cape and beyond. Cwecwe is everywhere.
In the Western Cape, the crisis is particularly dire. SAPS has identified eight GBV hotspots in the province, with areas such as Delft, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, and Mitchells Plain experiencing alarming rates of violence. These communities are plagued by child abductions, rapes, murders, and human trafficking, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
The case of Joshlin Smith, a six-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024, is a grim reflection of the growing threat to children in the province. Her disappearance and suspected murder have sent shockwaves through the nation.
Joshlin’s mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, along with two others, is currently on trial for charges including kidnapping and human trafficking. The horrifying reality is that child trafficking is a growing crisis in South Africa, and our children are not safe.
Tragically, Joshlin is not the only child we have lost to violence. Countless other children have been raped, abducted, and murdered. The cases of children like Amy-Lee de Jager, who was kidnapped outside her school, and the brutal murder of Tazne van Wyk in 2020, highlight a recurring pattern of violence against children that remains unresolved.
These are not isolated incidents—they are part of a nationwide crisis that demands immediate and decisive action.
The IFP has long called for a national strategy that includes harsher punishments for child abusers, a specialized police task force dedicated to child safety, and increased public awareness campaigns on human trafficking and GBV.
Survivors of GBV must have access to safe houses, legal assistance, and psychological support to rebuild their lives.
Beyond reactive measures, we must invest in education and awareness programs that challenge the normalization of violence and empower communities to be part of the solution.
The march for Cwecwe was not just about one child’s suffering but about all the lives devastated by violence. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye while children are abducted, raped, and murdered.
We cannot remain silent when women are brutalized daily.
Our collective voice must be louder than the silence that enables these crimes to continue. Justice for Cwecwe is justice for every victim of GBV.
Justice must come—not just in the form of words, but in real, tangible action that ensures no more lives are lost to this senseless violence.
The time for talking is over. The time for action is now.
#IFPGrowingInTheWesternCape #Sethembe #AMovingElephant #JusticeForCwecwe #EndGBV
