Strong message against gender violence

Johannesburg – Concerning the recent Constitutional Court landmark ruling on how the law should deal with gang rape, the Commission for Gender Equality says this has sent out a strong message of the judiciary’s commitment to implement the strongest laws against gender based violence.

  Last week the apex court ruled that under the common purpose doctrine, someone should be found guilty of rape if they were part of a group which committed the crime, whether they participated or not.

  The commission’s spokesperson Javu Baloyi said the ruling will have a significant impact on women’s rights.

  “We hope it sends a very strong message to all people who did not do anything while knowing that people are being raped in their presence and they did not shout. This would send a strong message to rapists and would be rapists that the South African government will not tolerate such,” Baloyi said.