The Acting Free State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Navilla Somaru, and Provincial Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, admitted during day one of the first GBV and Femicide Indaba held at Bobbiespark in Bloemfontein on Tuesday 12 May, that the situation in the province with regards to the issue is quite dire at this stage. Somaru cautions that many Free State towns and cities are ranked amongst the places with the highest sexually-based offenses and gender-based violence statistics/case numbers in the country, making specific mention of Botshabelo, Bronville in Welkom, and Phuthaditjhaba. 

Motswenyane echoes Somaru’s sentiments and explains why the two law enforcement agencies have convened to chart a way forward.

The Provincial Police Commissioner says if the systems put in place by law enforcement agencies were indeed effective, gender-based violence numbers would be lower. The indaba is meant to be a strategy session for all the relevant stakeholders to engage and pledge to implement the existing processes to curb the problem.

Navilla says because law enforcement officials have failed to curb the problem, they are seeking to collaborate with broader civil society, churches, non-governmental organisations, and traditional authorities to help mitigate the problem.

This gathering comes after the EFF in the Free State raised concern over the issue with EFF provincial chairperson, Mandisa Makesini, saying the party has noticed that the province features prominently on the police ministry's red flag crime statistics.

She said these incidents have been experienced mainly in three different areas in the province, which include Matjhabeng in Welkom, Botshabelo, and Qwaqwa, amongst others. Makesini also criticised police and the NPA for allegedly failing to put in more of an effort to curb the scourge.

The EFF was at the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court to attend the latest court appearance of McKenzie Ratselane, who is the estranged husband of Lesedi FM presenter, Dimakatso. Ratselane is facing multiple charges including kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder, after he was arrested in Gauteng for attacking and stabbing his wife multiple times in Bloemfontein.

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