Business Unity SA calls for stronger action against femicide in South Africa
South Africa's largest business association, Business Unity SA (Busa), called on the government, business and other sectors of society to step up efforts to combat gender-based violence and femicide. The statement came amid ongoing police investigations following the discovery of the bodies of eight women over the past two months, mainly in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
Call for joint action
As TimesLIVE reports, Busa expressed outrage over the brutal murders of women in Ekurhuleni, including in the Kempton Park area, and offered condolences to the victims' families and loved ones.
The association said that women must be safe at home, in workplaces and in public spaces. It stressed that silence, delays and fragmented responses to the crisis are unacceptable, and that communities and all sectors of society must act jointly and consistently.
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Busa described the killings as an assault on human dignity, constitutional rights and the values of South African society. The association also welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive to prioritize these cases, but noted that such urgency must be the standard in every similar case.
Support for families and assistance to the investigation
The association urged people with information to assist law enforcement authorities. Busa said it was ready to cooperate with the government, trade unions, civil society organizations and communities in preventing violence, supporting those affected, creating safer workplaces and strengthening accountability.
Rise Mzansi party leader and member of parliament Songezo Zibi called on South Africans to support affected families, protect vulnerable workers and help law enforcement stop the killings. According to him, the wave of violent crime indicates a systemic security crisis, while women in South Africa face a constant threat of gender-based violence and femicide.
