Gender-based violence and femicide took centre stage in Parliament today, after the Democratic Alliance called for an urgent debate on the escalating killings of women in Ekurhuleni. The
debate comes against the backdrop of a growing number of women found murdered across the region since July, with another woman killed in Tembisa on Monday bringing the reported number to 12.
The issue has moved beyond the question of individual criminal cases to one of policing, accountability and the state’s response to GBV. The DA’s Lisa Schickerling argued that Parliament needed to confront what she described as an urgent failure to protect women, while government and police have pointed to interventions already underway, including additional police deployments and an
oversight visit to Ekurhuleni police stations. And the debate comes at a particularly significant moment: a national inquiry into GBVF began in Johannesburg yesterday, examining how victims are supported, how cases are reported and investigated, and the challenges within the criminal justice system.
So, after today’s parliamentary debate, the question for us tonight is: what happens beyond Parliament? What changes for women living in communities where they say they still do not feel safe?

Gender-based violence and femicide took centre stage in&nbsp;Parliament today, after the Democratic Alliance called for an urgent&nbsp;debate on the escalating killings of women in Ekurhuleni. The debate comes against the backdrop of a growing number of women&nbsp;found murdered across the region since July, with another woman&nbsp;killed in Tembisa on Monday bringing the reported number to 12. The issue has moved beyond the question of individual criminal&nbsp;cases to one of policing, accountability and the state&rsquo;s response&nbsp;to GBV. The DA&rsquo;s Lisa Schickerling argued that Parliament needed&nbsp;to confront what she described as an urgent failure to protect&nbsp;women, while government and police have pointed to interventions&nbsp;already underway, including additional police deployments and an oversight visit to Ekurhuleni police stations.&nbsp;And the debate comes at a particularly significant moment: a&nbsp;national inquiry into GBVF began in Johannesburg yesterday,&nbsp;examining how victims are supported, how cases are reported and&nbsp;investigated, and the challenges within the criminal justice system. So, after today&rsquo;s parliamentary debate, the question for us tonight is:&nbsp;what happens beyond Parliament? What changes for women&nbsp;living in communities where they say they still do not feel safe?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope