The Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Development Business Trust, Riah Phiyega has called for more proactive measures to eradicate violent crime in the country, especially on the Cape Flats.

This, as there has been a surge in violent crimes in the area, and gang-related crimes over the past few months.

Phiyega was one of the keynote speakers at a fundraising event organised by NGO Ilitha Labantu in Durbanville, Cape Town.

The event is aimed at raising awareness of women survivors of abuse and children. It also raises alarm over escalating violent crimes on the Cape Flats.

Phiyega says, “Education is not focused upon. People are living in inhuman circumstances. We should be understanding that through those processes, we are equally contributors to what’s the scourge that we are seeing of crime. Yes, police are doing what they are doing to try and intervene. But that is a reactive intervention. We need to start saying what other proactive interventions we need to be looking into.”