EFF calls on the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to resign

3 August 2022

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reiterates the call for the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to resign. His insensitive, uncouth and revictimizing of the women who were gang raped by men in Krugersdorp is most unbefitting for a Minister of Police.

Cele stated that a 19-year-old woman was lucky to have been raped by only one man. This essentially further reinforces and perpetuates the idea that it is normal for women to be raped and that it should be expected. Cele is fundamentally normalising Rape and lulling society to treat rape as a normal practice on women. This cannot be but a better demonstration that Cele is severely ill equipped for the position of Minister of Police.

Cele's fatal position, even in isolation of the deadly failures of the ANC government to eradicate GBVF remain triggering for all women in our country and revictimize survivors. The ANC government continues to show women disdain not only through statements but by its members actions. Cyril Ramaphosa being the 1 st citizen of South Africa stands accused of torturing a woman, for millions of dollars that were stolen from his Phala Phala Farm.

As a minister of a crucial department in the country, Cele's first response and reaction to GBVF and other issues facing women must always be from a position of self interrogation and introspection. Both men and women are products of patriarchal and misogynistic indoctrination. It is therefore imperative that Gender sensitivity training and conscientising be undertaken determinedly, intentionally and be vigorously applied to those who have agreed to the task of eradicating patriarchal systems and a culture that perpetuates all forms of violence against women, children and the LGBTQI community by men and the state.

The state under the leadership Cyril Ramaphosa are both perpetrators and enablers of GBVF. Ramaphosa remains an agent of repression who is comfortable watching and laughing in Parliament as Members of Parliament were violently man-handled members of parliament vaginas and breasts. He watched, then laughed heartily and went on to address plenary.

The state under the ANC is steadfast in this position and role in GBVF. There is no hope under this government that women, children and the LGBTQI community will ever be free from the chains of patriarchy. The EFF continues to be the only viable machinery that remains deliberate and uncompromising in its stance in demanding more accountability from the police in order to boost the fight against GBV. We remain at the forefront of the war against GBVF and will continue to avail ourselves to intervene across various challenges that persist in the pursuit of gender equality.

The EFF has established a gender desk that pursues the eradication of GBVF and issues to protect the lives and dignity of women.

Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 3 August 2022