Gender-based violence and femicide cases continue to rise in South Africa as “violent” men in the country are targeting children and elderly women, the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, said.

“We have in recent times seen a spate of rapes and killings of elderly women, our mothers and grandmothers that are meant to be respected and treated with dignity,” Mr Ramaphosa added.

He was speaking during the second presidential summit on Gender Based Violence and Femicide.

According to the president, data from the South African Police Service shows that sexual offences and rape increased by 13% between 2017-18, and 2021-22.

Murders of women and children are also on the rise, he said.

“Between the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 there was a 52% increase in the murder of women, and 46% increase in the number of children murdered,” Mr Ramaphosa said, calling on men to end such crimes.

“These barbaric acts are a shameful indictment of the men of this country.”

He however highlighted some gains from the last presidential summit in 2018, including 83 courts being upgraded to sexual offences courts.