Former Top Billing TV host Janez Vermeiren has called out President Cyril Ramaphosa as he addressed the death of nine women in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng over the last two months, via an Instagram post on Friday, 18 September.
JANEZ VERMEIREN STANDS UP ABOUT GBV IN SOUTH AFRICA
Vermeiren called out Ramaphosa – and South African men – to stand up and fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
This follows the deaths of nine women in the Ekurhuleni area.
Vermeiren also stated that men need to raise their sons properly and teach them about consent. He called on men to not protect abusers whether it is a friend or family member.
“Mr President, I am going to start with you because technically you are the leader of all of us men in South Africa. And I looked at the stats about a recent post I put out about you know … raising daughters in South Africa. Only 20% of the people who watched that video were men and sadly, 80% were women. And that video was directly targeted towards the men of this country,” he said.
“So guys, please listen up to this one. Nine women have now been brutally murdered, in and around Johannesburg. We already know how terrible the rape and murder stats are against women and children of this country. So, my question is very simple today, where is the actual accountability here?” he asked.
“All men in this country need to play their part. Guys, just raise your sons properly. Teach them respect. Teach them what consent actually means. It’s not really that difficult. And if your friend, or your brother, or your uncle abuses a woman, please don’t go and protect him,” he continued.
Take a look at the full video below …
Meanwhile, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi also appealed to the men of the country to stand up and fight against GBV.
NINE WOMEN FOUND DEAD IN EKURHULENI
A total of nine dead bodies have been found in Ekurhuleni over the past two months.
The latest victim was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on the side of the road on Thursday morning, 17 September, in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni.
Investigators are working on finding her identity as well as the circumstances surrounding her death.
The first case was a 37-year-old woman found half-naked and dead in an open veld near the R21 highway, with a suspect arrested two days later and remaining in custody since.
The first victim to be formally identified was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a runner from Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.
A second victim has been identified as 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana.
A third victim has also been identified as 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane.
The fourth victim to be identified is 28-year-old Gracious Nkomo.