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The DA Women’s Network (DAWN) in the Eastern Cape strongly condemns the brutal slaying of a 23-year-old University of Fort Hare (UFH) student in East London.

The dismembered body of the young woman was found in Quigney, East London, and a suspect, believed to be the victim’s partner, was arrested shortly thereafter.

There is a total onslaught on the lives of women in the Eastern Cape and the South African Police Service and the ANC-led government is doing nothing to ensure their safety.

In a recent response to parliamentary questions submitted by DA EC Shadow MEC for Safety and Security, Bobby Stevenson, MPL, the MEC for Community Safety, Weziwe Tikana Gxothiwe, revealed that over the past three financial years, 1 603 women have been killed in the province.

Our women are being raped and murdered. They are not safe in their homes. They are not safe in their communities.

We will follow this case from start to finish to ensure that justice is served and that the perpetrator ends up behind bars.

I will also write to the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, to ask about his plans regarding the safety of our students in our universities in this province, as violence against women has become prevalent in our universities.

The government needs to get serious about protecting our women. Too many perpetrators are walking around free and too many women are being buried.

DAWN in the Eastern Cape will never stop fighting to ensure that our women are safe. We will fight this battle every day of the year, for as long as it takes.

Enough is enough!

Issued by The DA