KwaZulu Natal: The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government led by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has condemned in the strongest possible terms the horrendous sexual attack of three female security officers by a gang of criminals who stormed the Department of Transport offices in eThekwini.
According to the reports, about eight ( armed criminals entered the Department of Transport offices in Merebank in eThekwini by scaling the wall in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at about 02h30 and took hostage all six security guards on duty, bound them with their own shoelaces and subjected them to assault at gunpoint.
In another room, three female officers were raped at gunpoint in full view of their colleagues. The criminals also stole equipment belonging to the Department of Transport which is used in road maintenance.
“At the outset, we would like to offer our support to the victims of this senseless and barbaric act of criminality and violation of women’s dignity. The latest sexual attacks and rape of these three women is an embarrassment and an indication that some men do not belong in our society and should be stripped of all the freedoms set aside for normal people,” said Premier Dube-Ncube
“The Provincial Government has already assigned Psycho-Social support to the victims and affected staff as well as the necessary protection to support the victims of this criminal act. We will be visiting the victims as from tomorrow (Wednesday, 29 November) to further assess their condition. We commend the Department of Transport for speedily visiting the site in the morning and attending to the staff that was clearly traumatised by this incident,” added Premier Dube-Ncube.
The Premier also said that it was unfortunate that this attack comes at a time when the Province should be observing no violence against women and children.
“This incident comes as the country is thick in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), having launched the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign only on Saturday, 25 November”.
“We are deeply saddened that these barbaric and animalistic attacks on women still persist. The men who commit these crimes against their sisters and mothers, in all honesty, are less than human and should be condemned to long-term imprisonment without the option of a parole,” said the Premier.
Premier Dube-Ncube added that this heinous act has not only violated the rights and dignity of the survivors but has shaken our Province to its core.” No one should ever have to endure such a traumatic experience, and we must stand united against any form of violence, especially gender-based violence directed to women and children”.
KwaZulu Natal Premier concluded the summit by saying, “Government hired law enforcement agencies how swiftly and thoroughly investigate this incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice. They also gathered communities to support Gender Based Violence survivors, where they feel safe to report such crimes and seek the help they need.”