MEDIA RELEASE
2025-12-11

SUMMARY: The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) expresses outrage at yet another brutal rape of a child in Emalahleni, highlighting the government’s continued failure to protect communities from rampant violence. The Party criticises the state’s inaction despite GBVF being declared a national disaster.

 It is infuriating and utterly unbearable that less than 24 hours after the 16 Days of Activism campaign, our communities are once again forced to confront the brutality that government continues to ignore. 

We are outraged that barely after concluding a campaign dedicated to protecting our children, yet another child in Emalahleni has been violated in the most dehumanising and unforgivable way. 

The Labour Party learned of this outrageous crime of rape against this boy child through its provincial structures. 

“We are in our communities, making sure that we can assist where we can. One of our members then told us of what had happened, and we decided to show support to the community and especially to the child victim and his family”, noted interim provincial chairperson of Mpumalanga. 

The Labour Party refuses to normalise this terror that has been a daily reality in communities across South Africa. 

Just earlier today, the Labour Party released a media statement highlighting that South Africa is known to be the most unequal country globally, as well as being the country with the highest rates of violence and femicide against women in the world. 

Today, we stand at the face of the very evil and crime that has been recently declared a national disaster. This barbaric attack on the boy child is not only unlawful but enraging.

“I keep saying that as a nation we are too tolerant. This tolerance is rampant and evident even in our laws. Our administration of the so-called democracy and even the so-called best Constitution in world, has in fact put the country on its knees. Our tolerance must reach its breaking point otherwise we will continue to witness bloodshed,” declared Mathunjwa. 

“We must ask why the government is so relaxed about the level of crime and violence in communities. It makes us wonder whether there is a benefit they get from the level of crime and violence,” scrutinised Mathunjwa. 

The presiding magistrate postponed the case pending possible further investigation, while the community expressed frustration at the slow pace of justice, the family of the victim and the community rejoiced at the perpetrator being denied bail. 

“Our children do not have peace; women and children are being tormented. We plead for men to respect women and children”, said Doreen Malahle of the Labour Party. 

Since the declaration of the national disaster, South Africa still awaits, in great expectation, to feel the presence of government intervention. 

It is against these heartbreaking realities that the Labour Party adopts a no-tolerance and decisive-action approach to such evil crimes. Whereas the government, entrusted to protect its nation and its people, again finds itself complicit through inaction. 

The debates pertaining to the death penalty and chemical castration have been far removed from the reality that this crime shatters victims, their families, and the social fabric of communities – the building blocks of South Africa. 

“We focus too much on the rights of the perpetrator and forget that there is a victim that will live with the physical and psychological effects of this crime. So, when we say bring back the death penalty and introduce chemical castration it is a decisive act that will deter criminals and offer some level of justice to the victims and ultimately create safer communities for all,” expanded Mathunjwa. 

The Labour Party will stand firmly on this stance, and in solidarity with the victim and his family. 

“Enough is enough! Our children cannot continue being the sacrifice at the altar of a compromised justice system and an uncaring government”, concluded Mathunjwa. 

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