Zuma urges S. Africans to unite in fight against female killings

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday urged the nation to unite against the killing and attacks on women and children.

This followed separate gruesome killings of women and children in some parts of the country.

"We are outraged and seriously concerned about the reports of the abuse and killing of women and children in some parts of the country. We are especially extremely concerned that in most cases, these attacks occur in the hands of family members or in the case of women, their intimate partners," Zuma said in a statement.

South Africa has been shocked by 10 murders of women and girls in the past month.

In the most recent case this weekend, the body of a three-year-old girl was found in an open field in Cape Town. The girl was believed to be killed by a man who lived with her family as a tenant for two years.

In April, Karabo Mokoena, a teenage girl, was murdered by her boyfriend in Johannesburg after a heated argument.

South Africa has among the highest rates in the world for the rape and murder of women.

According to the SA Medical Research Council, 56 percent of female killings are committed by intimate partners.

Zuma said the nation must forge a united front with the law enforcement authorities, the government and all sectors of society in fighting this appalling scourge and isolate these criminals in society but within the ambit of the law.

"We must unite in fighting these scourges and attacks on the most vulnerable members of our society, our women and children," Zuma said.

The SA government has declared violence against women and children as a priority crime and set up a 24-hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre hotline intended for victims to report attacks, including those by family members or partners.

"Many perpetrators were being caught and are given long jail terms because of the cooperation of the public by coming forward with information," Zuma said.

The president further urged victims of violence not to be intimidated and to report the perpetrators to the police to ensure that the law takes its swift course.

"Victims should not turn a blind eye to violence in their intimate relationships, at home work or at school but should immediately report perpetrators incidents to authorities before such abuse intensifies and leads to murder," said Zuma. Endit