Courts will not solve gender-based violence‚ says activist - as mother mourns her slain daughter

Courts will not solve gender-based violence‚ but can play a part in giving appropriate sentences‚ an activist says.

Maurice Smithers of the Yeoville Bellevue No to Gender-Based Violence Coalition was speaking outside court after Johannesburg former ANC Youth League leader Patrick Wisani was sentenced in the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday.

Wisani was sentenced to an effective 20 years' imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend Nosipho Mandleleni.

• Former ANCYL leader sentenced to 20 years for murdering girlfriendFormer Johannesburg ANC Youth League leader Patrick Wisani was on Thursday sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the Johannesburg High Court for the murder of his girlfriend.

"The judgment was well thought out. The judge took the case seriously.

"We are disappointed at the sentence because he didn't show any remorse‚" Smithers said.

"The only time he ever showed emotion was when he was angry. He never showed remorse for the fact that his girlfriend died.

• Wisani's postponement upsets victim's family"Our daughter is six feet under‚ you will rot in jail."

"My worry is‚ is he going to learn from this or is he going to come out more angry towards women?"

Nosipho's mother Noxolo said she was not pleased with the sentence.

"Twenty years is not enough. I would have been happy if he had been given a life sentence. But any sentence will not bring my daughter back‚" she said.

Smithers said he hoped the case will have some impact on the rest of society.

"I do think it's important to note the courts are not going to resolve gender-based violence. The courts can play a small part by giving appropriate sentences."

He said gender-based violence will be solved by society engaging with the issue and changing attitudes.

"Women are complicit in patriarchy in that they don't challenge it.

"It's a traumatic issue. It's something our society has to deal with‚" Smithers said.