Africa
South Africans protest gender violence after child rape allegation
A crowd of protesters staged a demonstration against gender-based violence in the South African capital of Pretoria on Friday as part of a national outcry after an alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl.
This is the latest protest sparked by allegations that the girl, referred to as Cwecwe to protect her identity, was raped at her school last year and that the matter was only reported a month later.
Last week, thousands protested in the city of Cape Town and earlier this week another demonstration took place in Matatiele, an area where the alleged rape took place.
Demonstrators were dressed in mostly black outfits and held placards with slogans condemning rape and violence against women and children.
The protesters have called on the South African government to declare gender-based violence a national crisis and impose the harshest sentences on those convicted of related crimes.
While the attack on the 7-year-old girl was in November, her mother has recently been speaking out, saying she has felt let down by the justice system.
Reigning Miss South Africa Mia le Roux was among those who attended the protests and called on the government to do more to fight gender-based violence in the country.
“I’m here because I want to add my voice to the voices of all these women that are gathered here today because we have decided that enough is enough,” she said.
“We are hearing too many stories of our sisters being hurt, and I want our leaders to know that this is really a national disaster.”
Activist Themba Masango, who leads the organization Not In My Name which advocates against gender-based based violence, called on men to take responsibility and lead the fight.
Rape and attempted sexual offenses from October to December last year declined by 3% compared to 2023, according to the latest crime statistics published in February by the police ministry.
However, sexual assault and contact sexual assault cases reported increased during the same period.
Nearly two-thirds of the 11,803 rapes were committed in the perpetrator or victim’s home.
A fifth took place in public spaces while night clubs, schools and universities were also places of violence, according to those statistics.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu following serious allegations made by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a top police official. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of interfering in sensitive investigations and colluding with criminal syndicates.
The suspension comes amid growing concern over alleged political interference within key law enforcement agencies. President Ramaphosa announced the decision publicly, stating, “In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to work properly.”
Ramaphosa has appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police. Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi further alleged that Mchunu and Sibiya disbanded a critical crime-fighting unit that was investigating a string of politically motivated killings. These killings were reportedly linked to organized criminal networks.
The President also outlined the scope of the inquiry. “The Commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; or failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations,” Ramaphosa said.
Opposition parties have criticized the President for not taking stronger action. They argue that placing Mchunu on leave falls short of accountability and have called for his immediate dismissal instead.
The electoral process for Gabon’s local and legislative elections is officially underway.
The timetable for the September 27 vote has been announced and members of the national election commission have been sworn in by the Constitutional Court.
The revision of electoral rolls across the country begins on July 14 and continues until August 12. This will ensure new voters are added and deceased or ineligible voters removed from the rolls. It will also register any changes of voting centre and update personal data.
People aged 18 and over with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) are automatically registered and need only choose their polling center.
Local electoral commissions will be set up by July 26 and deployed across the country and abroad.
Nominations for the legislative and local elections are open from July 27 to August 7.
Fifth Republic
The Ministry of the Interior and national election commission reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring “credible, transparent and peaceful” elections, and called on citizens to play an active part in building the Fifth Republic.
Last week, two years after seizing power in a coup, President Brice Oligui Nguema unveiled a new political party, the Democratic Union of Builders, or UDB. Oligui secured nearly 95 percent of the vote in April’s presidential election.
The launch of the UDB appears to signal Oligui’s intent to transition from military leader to long-term political figure. While he initially presented himself as a reformer leading a transitional government, the creation of a political party gives structure to his leadership and a platform for future governance.
Scheduled to take place for the first time in almost forty years, local and municipal elections in the Central African Republic have been once again postponed.
Initially planned for the end of August, officials say the vote will now be held in December, in conjunction with the legislative and presidential elections.
President Touadéra, who has been in office since 2016, launched a biometric voter registration exercise last year to update the electoral roll.
Authorities say the postponement is due to a delay in mobilizing funds as well as technical and organizational hiccups.
Members of the opposition BRDC are calling for an overhaul of the electoral authority and a dialogue with President Touadéra.
CAR has been battling conflict since 2013 when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power and forced the then-president from office. The United Nations has said the elections represent a ”crucial opportunity” to strengthen democratic governance, promote reconciliation and consolidate stability.
The landlocked country is one of the poorest in the world, despite having significant natural resources, including uranium, oil, gold and diamonds.
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