News24 reports that a North West nurse was allegedly raped while on her way to work in the Taung village on Sunday morning.

North West MEC for Health Madoda Sambatha was shocked by the news and said: "This is a devastating incident. Disregarding women's rights and safety should never be normalised in our communities. We need to work hard to turn the tide of gender-based violence and should not accept such crimes against women. The rape of one woman is a degradation and limitation to all women. Rape is the most intimate of crimes, and it is disturbing that this heinous act occurred against a health worker as she was on her way to render her services to save lives." North West Department of Health spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane indicated that the incident was unacceptable and deplorable. North West Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) spokesperson Reuben Molete reacted as follows: "We are highly disturbed by this violent activity against a woman who is a nurse on her way to provide health services and preserve the lives of community members." The union called on the Taung community to unite and fight gender-based violence. "We've collaborated with other gender-based structures and Cosatu. We are planning a march (in Taung) that will showcase the issue of gender-based violence against women, including that this particular woman finds justice and recovery," Molete indicated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshepiso Motloung at News24

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