Johannesburg - The DA and Cosatu will take part in marches against rape in Bredasdorp following the gang rape and murder of a teenager there, they said on Friday.
“Members of the community... will be marching (on Friday) to the construction site where Anene Booysen, 17, was brutally gang raped and murdered in the early hours of Saturday morning,” DA spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement.
She said the Democratic Alliance would support local residents and use its constitutional powers to make sure police and the courts achieved a speedy and appropriate prosecution of the perpetrators.
A wreath would be laid at the scene of the crime.
Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said a rally against rape would take place in Bredasdorp after Booysen's memorial service on Sunday.
“Cosatu believes that this event is bigger than party politics and all organisations and individuals are welcome to attend.”
He said the rally would begin at the Nelson Mandela Hall and end at the Bredasdorp police station, where a memorandum would be handed over.
“We need to pour out our grief and pain at this event in a matter that ensures that there is no repeat of this abuse of women,” Ehrenreich said.
Also on Friday, United Democratic Front Woman's Organisation secretary general Thandi Nontenja condemned the attack.
The violent nature of Booysen's ordeal had brought sexual violence to the public's attention.
“But there are thousands of victims who we never hear about and, far too often, slip between the cracks of the justice system,” she said in a statement.
“One would think that with a female police commissioner sexual offences would be higher on the South African Police Service's list of priorities,” Nontenja said.
Three men have been arrested in connection with Booysen's attack and murder. - Sapa