Johannesburg, Monday, 5 August 2019 - The Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Thuliswa Khawe, has denounced the increasing acts of domestic violence in the province. This follows the arrest of a 24-year-old man and his mother by the police for the murder of his stepfather in Tembisa yesterday.
It is alleged a son walked in on his "abusive" stepfather assaulting his mother, he hit him with an axe and he died.
Khawe says "I am concerned with these acts of violence which seem to be getting out of control. I am encouraging families to find amicable ways of resolving disputes".
MEC added that the department's social workers are always on call to provide their services for such family mediation.
"We must do all in our power to break this cycle of violence. We must look into old age traditional methods of mediation like involving elders of family to resolve family disputes", MEC said.
MEC Khawe discouraged members of community from taking law into their own hands.
The rule of law is the central pillar of any democracy and that the department of Social Development is steadfast in its view that the South African Police Service together with Social Cluster should continue to work together and to put plans in place to control such situations in future.
The department will intensify awareness campaign on how to find peaceful resolution in domestic conflicts.
Members of the community are encouraged to report acts violence against women and children on: 080 042 8428 gender based violence command centre