S. African presitent promises "urgent measures" to combat gender-based violence

Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-05 22:14:26|Editor: xuxin
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CAPE TOWN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- President Cyril Ramaphosa promised on Thursday to take "urgent measures" to combat growing gender-based violence.

"We must declare a state of emergency -- I will be addressing that issue as well," said Ramaphosa while meeting with hundreds of protesters outside Parliament.

Protests have continued for the past two days over the latest spate of gender-based violence which claimed the lives of several women.

Ramaphosa said he would address the nation later on Thursday in a "very clear and definite way" on how the government would fight gender-based violence.

"Enough is enough, and we will act on that," Ramaphosa told the protesters.

He said the state will work out harsher penalties against petetrators of gender-based violence.

In recent days, South Africans have been shocked by violent murders of several women and girls, including 19-year-old Uyinene Mrwetyana, a Cape Town University Student, Leighandre Jegels, South African boxing champion, and 14-year-old Janika Mallo, whose body was found in her grandmother's back yard in Cape Town after being raped and murdered.

All the murders happened in August as South Africans celebrated the Women's Month dedicated to the protection of women.

There were many other women and girls who have become victims of gender-based violence in South Africa, according to the United Nations in South Afria.

Ramaphosa has been criticized for only offering lip service but failing to take tangible and effective measures to contain gender-based violence.

Dressed in black, the protesters outside Parliament heckled the president. Some protesters said they didn't believe in Ramaphosa.

The government "will heighten the safety and protection of the women of our nation," the president said.

Also on Thursday, another protest took place outside the Cape Town International Conference Center where the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa was underway.

The protesters clashed with police when trying to force their way into the venue.

Riot police fired stun grenades and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

Several protesters have been arrested, police said.

The agenda of the WEF on Africa has been affected somewhat as delegates found it difficult to enter or leave the venue, organizers said.

The protest has turned violent at some point, said one organizer who refused to be named.

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