KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli says the recent reported Gender-Based Violence cases paint a grim picture of escalating violence against women and children in the province.

Ntuli was addressing mourners at the funeral of a 23-year-old Ayabonga Mjilo at Hlokozi in Southern KwaZulu-Natal.

Mjilo’s body was found buried at her manager’s home in Amaotana in Durban. She was reported missing by her family on Christmas Eve.

Her manager Mfanafuthi Kunene has been arrested and has appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

The Premier’s presence at the Durban Magistrate’s Court underscores the Provincial Government’s unwavering commitment to fighting gender-based violence and ensuring justice for victims and their families. pic.twitter.com/cGcmCmxpDU

— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) January 6, 2025

Ntuli says awareness campaigns, support services for victims, and stricter law enforcement in hotspot areas will be implemented.

“But I do not really believe that that when you are affected by socio-economic factors you have to display that by killing a woman or a child. I think there’s animalism behaviour, which in fact we are seeing mostly in black men. The majority of these cases, you will not find Indians or white men being part of it especially in the majority, we are the people who are actually perpetrators. Hence, it’s important that for us as the black community, that we pay attention to this scourge of GBV and put it to a stop,” says Ntuli.

VIDEO | KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli says the province saw an increase in GBV cases during the festive season.