Lesufi urges urgent action on GBVF as crime drops in Gauteng
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for intensified efforts to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), describing it as the only crime category in the province that remains on the rise.
This comes despite a 6.5% overall drop in crime between October and December 2024, according to recent reports.
In response, Lesufi announced a 72-hour activation period for law enforcement to track down GBVF perpetrators. He also took part in the ANC Women’s League march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on November 29, 2024, demanding tougher action against gender-based crimes.
Lesufi linked alcohol abuse to the escalation of GBV, particularly in hotspots like Ga-Rankuwa, and criticized existing provincial strategies as inadequate. Speaking during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, he called for urgent reforms.
However, his claim that GBVF is the only crime not declining has faced public skepticism, with some South Africans pointing to other persistent criminal activities in the province.
