The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants South Africans to sign its petition calling for Police Minister Bheki Cele to be fired, saying it is time the South African Police Service (Saps) is led by a serious and skilled Minister, not a “clueless and irresponsible misogynist”.

During a television news interview, Cele stated that "a 19-year-old woman was lucky to be raped by one man while others were raped by 10 men".

This was in relation to the recent attack on eight women near Krugersdorp, while they were shooting a music video at a disused mine.

The DA said Cele’s comments should be the absolute last straw.

“Bheki Cele's comment showed an utter lack of sensitivity towards women and rape survivors. This creates a complete breakdown in trust. Bheki Cele must go,” said DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Women Nazley Sharif.

She questioned how Cele could head the Saps when his attitude perpetuates rape culture in an already violent society. She said this was reason enough for him to be fired.

She said government showed a lack of response and lack of care for survivors, as well as zero accountability.

“Minister Bheki Cele has said many atrocious things in his disastrous career, but this latest statement is simply unforgivable and cannot be ignored. If Bheki Cele is still the Minister of Police on this day [National Women’s Day], it will be a clear sign of the utter insincerity of the African National Congress (ANC) government's "seriousness" about gender-based violence. On that day, no member of the ANC government dares stand on a stage and spout platitudes about their commitment to women's rights. It will simply be vulgar,” Sharif said.