CGE slams assault of elderly woman by security guards

The President welcomed the arrest of the suspects and appealed for the law to be allowed to take its course

The Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) in the Free State has condemned the violent assault of Esther Mankge from Limpopo by security guards who accused her of shoplifting.

Video footage of the assault, captured on CCTV in October last year, only went viral recently, in the process drawing widespread condemnation.

The footage shows Mankge being attacked and beaten with belt, ropes, a broom and even a rubber hammer. This happened at Jane Furse Plaza in Limpopo where Mankge was shopping in October.

The CGE has committed itself to monitoring the process of the court case and it will reveal their findings later.

“The CGE is of the firm belief that, if Mrs. Mankge had committed a wrongful act, she could have been reported to the police rather than be kicked throughout her body, including her genitals for an hour.”

“As the CGE we believe the actions of the security guards, in addition to violating the rights of an individual, were criminal in nature and the police should investigate thoroughly and those involved in this criminal act should be prosecuted accordingly,” CGE Javu Baloyi said in a statement.

It is the CGE’s view that gender-based violence in South Africa, despite efforts to raise awareness on the issue, has reached crisis proportions. The CGE calls for harsher penalties for those found guilty of such acts of violence against women and children.

“If found guilty, those that committed these atrocities should be given harsher sentences as a deterrent to others, that we have laws in this country, wherein if incidents of wrong doings occur rather to become law unto yourselves, as seen in the case of Mrs. Mankge, report to the police,” said Chairman of the Commission for Gender Equality Mfanozelwe Shozi.

The CGE emphasized that this particular incident should call for commitment from the South Africans to find more effective interventions to eliminate the scourge of violence against women and children.

Another disturbing factor for the CGE in Mankge’s matter is the allegation that these security guards took money from her. Meanwhile, the ANCWL in Limpopo gave Mankge the platform to express her anger and share this experience in a public platform. A media briefing was called where she poured her heart out to the media.

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma has join the growing chorus of indignation at the barbaric and dehumanising treatment meted out to Mankge.

“Regardless of the alleged crime, all citizens have an inalienable right to human dignity as well as access to justice and the protection of the law.

“We applaud the actions of those who recorded this incident and those who recorded previous similar incidents of brutality or abuse,” said President Zuma.

The President welcomed the arrest of the suspects and appealed for the law to be allowed to take its course. He said this will assist a great deal in combating criminal behaviour and abuse.

“Our citizens clearly understand the country’s human rights ethos and do not tolerate or turn a blind eye to abuse. That is very encouraging,” added President Zuma.