Deputy Minister of Women, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has hit back at EFF Member of Parliament Sihle Lonzi, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the department’s efforts in high-profile gender-based violence cases.
In a strongly worded response, Letsike defended the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, asserting that it is “actively working on all cases,” including the widely publicized Cwecwe case, which has drawn national attention.
“It is misleading and unfair to claim we’re only responsive in certain situations,” said Letsike. “The Cwecwe matter is receiving our full attention, just like every other case. No life is more important than another — that’s our guiding principle.”
The Deputy Minister made it clear that the recent surge in media coverage around television personality Minnie Dlamini’s case is not a result of preferential treatment, but simply because of her status as a public figure.
“Public figures naturally attract media interest. That doesn’t mean we’re not working equally hard on other matters. The media spotlight shouldn’t be mistaken for institutional bias,” she emphasized.
The clash between Letsike and Lonzi reflects a broader tension in South African politics around accountability and visibility in gender-based violence cases — an issue that continues to plague communities and dominate national discourse.
While political debate swirls, victims and their families are still waiting for justice. Letsike has reiterated her department’s commitment to “leaving no case behind,” urging the public to hold all leaders to a standard of truth and unity in the fight against gender-based violence.
