Human Rights Activist Sihle Sibisi says the criminal justice system is failing to send a strong enough message in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
Her comments come as Lawrence Mudzinganyama was granted bail by the Randburg Magistrates’ Court.
Mudzinganyama is a Zimbabwean national who has secured several multi-million-rand tender contracts in South Africa.
He came under the spotlight after a video of him threatening to kill women for rejecting his advances, went viral on social media.
Mudzinganyama faces 10 charges, including intimidation, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, crimen injuria and fraud.
Sibisi says his release raises questions about the country’s response to GBV, particularly after President Cyril Ramaphosa identified gender-based violence and femicide as a national priority crisis.
She says, “This man is out and what message are you sending to other men who might be behaving like him. He got R15 000 bail, they just took his passport and warned him not to interfere. ”
Sibisi adds, “I think our law system is showing us that we cannot trust them because this man did say that he would “unalive” someone and still walk away. So we are watching someone who was threatening people and here he is walking.”
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Reporting by Nonhlanhla Ntshingila.
