This, after President Cyril Ramaphosa during his address to the nation on Covid-19 related matters on Wednesday night revealed that violence against women and children is still a major concern and that through data collected while the country was on a hard lockdown, government identified 30 hotspots where GBV is endemic.

Social media users have since taken to Twitter and Facebook to pose questions about the location of the identified hotspots and to call Ramaphosa to action against abuse.

OFM News’ Katleho Morapela reports Ramaphosa's statement on violence against women and children during the hard lockdown period comes just months after the SAPS' Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) in the Free State confirmed to OFM News that the number of child abuse cases has increased in the province.

This, despite the country being in a lockdown.

In an exclusive interview with the unit’s Colonel Thembi Lebitsa, she revealed that they have shockingly seen an increase of domestic violence cases and child abuse since the lockdown period.

She appealed to communities in the Free State to report any cases of abuse and to do more to safeguard children throughout the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period.

Ramaphosa's announcement about the 30 hot spots also comes at a time when communities in the Free State are still reeling from the horrific death a 21-month-old baby, Bokamoso Blessing Mpembe, who was murdered in Petrus Steyn just two weeks ago.

Bokamoso was allegedly abducted and killed by her mother's former lover. She went missing on August 30, after her mother went to neighbours to seek help after allegedly being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend.

Upon her return, she discovered that her baby was missing along with her ex-boyfriend.

Bokamoso's body was discovered days later on September 3 in bushes on a nearby farm, not far from where the ex-boyfriend had taken his own life.

OFM News