CAPE TOWN -
A Cape Town matric student who recently launched a women’s only e-hailing service has been forced to seek refuge following threats from taxi bosses.
In the midst of the Covid-19 global pandemic and the increase in gender-based violence (GBV), founder Asiphe Mkhefa decided to create a safer platform for women to travel.
Mkhefa launched the Women Go service in August and it’s operated by women only. While the teen has plans on expanding her business nationally, she’s currently focused on completing her matric certification.
"I figured that I need to create a society where women can actually feel safe in their own taxi services that they won't have any fear because I know from experience that when I get into a taxi full of men, I get so scared," said Mkhefa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r45zlyhAhJI&feature=emb_title
During Women’s Month, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that as much as 51% of women in South Africa have experienced GBV and that the country had among the highest levels of intimate partner violence in the world.
During the first month of the national lockdown, the national helpline for abused women and children received over 120 000 calls, which doubled the usual volume.
Statistics SA showed that South Africa’s femicide is five times the global average and that close to 3 000 women are murdered in South Africa every year.
“A war is being waged against the women and children of our country,” said Ramaphosa.
“According to SAPS there has been an increase in violent crime, especially murders since we entered alert level 3.
We need to understand what factors are fuelling this terrible trend and address it urgently,” he said.
For LIVE updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, follow us on Twitter: