Ramaphosa to sign GBV and Femicide Bill into law in public ceremony

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Lindsay Dentlinger

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday morning sign the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill into law in a public ceremony at the Union Buildings.

It's the second time in as many weeks that the president is making a public display of enacting legislation.

Parliament's work to curb the scourge of gender-based violence through legislation has been hailed as one of this administration's positive achievements.

The National Council of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill lays the foundation for a multi-sectoral approach to tackling this form of violence.

The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence.

During deliberations on the bill last year, opposition parties had concerns the council won't have enough teeth to hold government departments accountable.

But the Presidency said that this landmark legislation was a critical step in ensuring the safety and security of women.

Political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng counts government's approach to GBV among its positive achievements.

"GBV was declared a pandemic. For the first time in South Africa, a proper budget was put forward for tackling GBV, and for the first time in South Africa, a national plan of action against GBV was put into action."

In 2022, Ramaphosa signed three GBV-related bills into law in response to declaring GBV a second pandemic.

On Friday, the president will also sign the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill into law, which will establish the Investigative Directorate as a permanent entity, giving it more powers to investigate high-profile and serious corruption and financial crimes.