This, ahead of a dialogue to address violence against women and children. The North West Legislature will on Thursday convene a dialogue calling for unity to end violence against women and children.

"We need to speak as different organisations within our society to call for peace and unity in the country. The programme will also afford each political party an opportunity to speak on their position on the matter to end violence against women and children and it will end with a prayer session," she said.

Following the current and prevailing situation in South Africa, which has been rocked by outrage over a spate of rapes and murders in recent weeks, Dantjie deemed it necessary to convene the dialogue where leaders of political parties represented in the legislature and community-based organisations could raise their concerns.

"We also call on all sectors of the society to join hands in the call for harsher sentences against perpetrators convicted for cases of violence against women and children. These people must be locked away for a very long time as they form part of perpetrators who commit gruesome crimes on women and children. 

"Women are part of the economic growth in our country, yet they are the most vulnerable and marginalised by the very same people who are supposed to protect them," she said.

She said the legislature supports efforts by the broader society to march against violence against women and children.

"It is disheartening to find that in this country, women die at the hands of the very same men that are supposed to protect them. We have spoken enough and it's time our efforts are taken seriously and these perpetrators are dealt with, with the harshest punishments."

ANA