The pressure group Action Society is urging to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to end the state of disaster with immediate effect. This comes after she indicated that she will be likely extending the lockdown regulations by another month.
“By prolonging the state of disaster, violence against women and children will keep escalating. It seems like government is ignoring the current circumstances and not making the safety of our children their main concern. It is clear that our children are not safe within state hospitals due to Covid-19 regulations,” says Daleen Gouws, spokesperson of Action Society.
This comes after another child was allegedly raped by another patient at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital. Due to coronavirus regulations the mother was not allowed to attend to or visit her child.
Earlier a two-year-old was also raped at Dr George Mukhari Hospital in Pretoria during her obligated stay in a Covid-19 isolation room. Hospital staff told the mother to go home since her baby girl might have the coronavirus and needs to be in isolation. Upon discharge the next day the mother realised that the child was not herself and discovered that she has been sexually assaulted.
“The decision to further extend the state of disaster will be very irresponsible, as it will put more children in harm’s way. The future of our children should be protected now! It will not matter that they survived a pandemic in years to come, but was raped and abused due to Covid-19 regulations.”
ISSUED BY: Action Society
DATE: 13 October 2020
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Daleen Gouws,
Spokesperson: Action Society,
Cell: 0812338351
