EFF Eastern Cape statement on the horrific practice of women paying “protection fees” to avoid rape
1 November 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters Eastern Cape is outraged and deeply appalled by the reality that women in the Eastern Cape feel compelled to leave money on their windowsills as a "protection fee" to avoid the horrific threat of rape.
This situation starkly exposes the complete breakdown of our society's moral fabric and highlights the pervasive culture of gender-based violence that has taken hold across South Africa. This so-called "protection fee" is not just a desperate act by vulnerable women; it's a devastating symbol of how fear and violence have become normalized in our communities, forcing women to pay for their right to exist without harm.
Our province has failed women on every level when they must pay for a semblance of safety. This practice is an indictment of a system that has ignored the cries of survivors, let perpetrators go unpunished, and neglected to take gender-based violence seriously. We are living in a country where predators feel emboldened and act with impunity, knowing that the consequences they face are minimal. This injustice against women reflects a structural failure at the highest levels of governance and law enforcement to protect the most vulnerable among us.
The recent rape of six Grade 12 learners in Mqhekezweni Village, is a horrifying reminder of South Africa's persistent crisis of gender-based violence. These young girls, students from Jongintaba Secondary School, were subjected to unimaginable trauma in what should be a safe and supportive environment.
The EFF refuses to accept this status quo. We demand immediate, robust action on all fronts to address this epidemic of gender-based violence and femicide that continues to spread through our communities.
Our government must adopt an unwavering commitment to justice for survivors and a radical stance against those who seek to harm women. This includes the enforcement of stricter laws and faster prosecutions to hold perpetrators accountable and break the cycle of violence. Our police and judicial systems must be reformed to ensure that every case of gender-based violence is taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and prosecuted decisively.
Through our parliamentary caucus, the EFF has been active in raising concerns and pushing for stronger legislation and action on gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa and we have demonstrated such by fully supporting the establishment of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, signed into law in 2024, which aims to coordinate and strengthen the national response to GBV through a collaborative approach with government and civil society stakeholders.
The EFF has also highlighted issues like statutory rape and the failure of certain professionals, such as teachers and nurses, to report these crimes, which contribute to an ongoing crisis affecting young girls. The EFF's consistent efforts have included calls for better oversight and stronger accountability for these offenses.
There can be no compromises when it comes to protecting women's rights and dignity.
Furthermore, we call on provincial authorities to invest in resources that support survivors, provide safe spaces for women, and establish community programs that educate and empower individuals to stand against violence.
Education is key to challenging the toxic masculinity and entrenched attitudes that fuel gender-based violence, and we must make it a national priority. It is unacceptable that in a democratic country, women should have to "buy" safety from predators. This goes against the very foundation of human rights and dignity that we stand for.
The Economic Freedom Fighters stands unwaveringly in our commitment to fight for communities where no woman has to pay for her security, where violence against women is met with zero tolerance, and where every person is free to live without fear. The time for empty promises is over. Our society must take decisive action to end gender-based violence. We call on our members, our leaders, and every South African to unite against this scourge, to demand accountability, and to work tirelessly until no woman feels the need to put money on her windowsill to protect herself from assault.
Enough is enough. We will not rest until we have built a country where women are safe, empowered, and treated with the respect and protection they deserve.
Gender-based violence is not just a women's issue—it is a crisis that demands the attention, action, and commitment of all South Africans. Our fight against this epidemic will be relentless, and we will not stop until justice, safety, and dignity are ensured for every woman in our country.
Issued by Zilindile Vena, Provincial Chairperson, EFF Eastern Cape, 5 November 2024
