rape

According to Linda Musariri Chipatiso, it seems incongruous that South Africans celebrate Women's Month, yet stories of conflict and gender-based violence (GBV) flood today's headlines.

In her article titled ‘Gender Violence Still Hinders Women's Freedom’, Chipatiso argues that, “Whether it is the abduction of girls in Nigeria, the unending trial of Oscar Pistorius or the young woman raped and murdered last over the weekend because of her sexuality- the horrific immediacy of violence is all too apparent.”

At 12h25 on 20 August 2014, the number of rapes this month reached a staggering 45 402, according to Blow the Whistle.

Blow the Whistle director, Mike Rowley, points out that, “In August 2014, statistically there’ll be a total of 74,400 rapes,” adding that, “Even though we fight this battle every day, August is the month we’ll make our biggest stand yet.”

One women is raped in South Africa every 26 seconds. This alarming statistics and attacks on women seems to be increasingly brutal and fatal, and now a local non-government organisation (NGO) is taking action against these heinous crime.

Men Against Rape (MAR) are to host a fundraising concert to mark men's month at the Tongaat Town Hall in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, and all proceeds will go towards the organisation in its pursuit to provide support to victims of rape.

Having been labelled a ‘rape apologist’, David Bullard tried to make peace by starting a donation drive for the Rape Crisis Centre, but the organisation rejected his money.

The controversial columnist started his attempt at donating with this tweet: “Followers, please donate to @RapeCrisis and I’ll start the ball rolling with R3 000. Bank details please.”

The Western Cape (WC) High Court has declared section 50(2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (Sexual Offences Act) unconstitutional.

The applicant, who admitted to raping three minor children while he himself was still a minor, was sentenced in terms of the Child Justice Act and his name was entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders in terms of section 50(2) of the Act.