1 November 2013, Cape Town
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape Province welcomes the two life sentences meted out to Johannes Kana – the rapist and murderer of Anene Booysen.
As the SACP, we are content with this sentence as it sends a clear and unambiguous message to perpetuators of senseless murders of defenseless women and children. To us this is a victory, as it sets a preventative judicial precedent against the oppression of woman and children, added to that the decision has strengthened the application of our societal rights contained in the country’s Constitution and it’s attached Bill of Rights.
Furthermore our gratitude must also include the steadfast commitment of the Bredasdorp community. Their collective persistence, discipline and unequivocal assistance enabled the judiciary and criminal justice system to solve the barbaric and senseless murder of one of their own. Their inalienable support of the extended Booysen family during this difficult period is a demonstration of the community’s resolve to unite against crime and violence directed at woman and children.
Therefore we urge all Western Cape communities and Bredasdorp in particular; to ensure that never again shall a human being suffer such an inhumane pain as Anene Booysen was subjected to, an atrocity such as this should never happen in our society again. Furthermore, the perpetuators of crimes against woman and children must be subjected to severe sentences which completely exclude these individuals from our society.
As the SACP, it is our understanding that heinous crimes such as this are a direct affront to the advances our country and liberation movement has achieved and in its perpetual fight against patriarchy. It is against this background that there is a direct link between violence against woman and children and the socio economic factors which manifests itself through our historical conditions and the current capitalist system.
As the SACP we reiterate our call to the communities, the police and the justice system to act swiftly and decisively in combating these heinous crimes perpetrated against women and children. It is our view that all those who commit these heinous crimes have no space in our society.
Thus, the satisfactory conclusion of the Anene Booysen rape and murder case should serve as a lesson to the neoliberal and anti-majoritarian opposition parties and their capitalist media adherents , that our criminal justice is on course in defending all who live in our society, particularly the working class and the poor.
Issued by SACP Western Cape
Enquiries
Khaya Magaxa – SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary
083 721 0221
Masonwabe Sokoyi – SACP Western Cape Media Liaison Officer
0741772068