Roberta Writes – Gender Based Violence in South Africa

Uncategorized 7 Minutes

My son, Michael, had to do a project on gender based violence (“GBV”) in South Africa for a project at school. I am sharing it here as I thought it was very insightful and well researched.

What is GBV?

GBV encompasses any type of violence that is caused by the exploitation of unequal power in relationships between genders.

GBV in South Africa includes instances of sexual, physical, mental and economic harm inflicted by one party, usually a man, on other parties, usually women and/or children in private or in public.

The perpetrator may or may not know the victim depending on the circumstances. Some examples of GBV in partner/marriage relationships include threats of violence, manipulation and coercion of the victim.

Picture credit: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/11/24/south-africa-broken-promises-aid-gender-based-violence-survivors

GBV ‘hot spots’ in South Africa

South Africa has one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. GBV in South Africa includes rape, murder of women, and domestic abuse. Key statistics on GBV quoted by Ballard Brief:

  1. “The rate of murders on females in South Africa is approximately 24,6 per 100,000 females which is nearly six times the global average;
  2. Although there is enacted legislation and general government action in South Africa, the instances of rape have only decreased by 6% since 1996;
  3. Approximately 28% of South African males have admitted to at least one rape and of that number, 46% are repeat offenders.

Picture credit: https://ewn.co.za/2019/12/29/women-take-centre-stage-in-protests-against-gender-based-violence

According to an article in the Sowetan Live entitled ‘Eastern Cape accounts for most GBV cases with twice national rate’, the Eastern Cape has emerged as the leading province for cases of GBV.

Abrahams said while cases of femicide had decreased since 2017, the caseload for the police was still very high.

Professor Naheema Abrahams from the South African Medical Research Council said the following about GBV in the Eastern Cape at the Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in Midrand in October 2022: “The Eastern Cape unfortunately is our province that has more than twice the national rate [of femicide]. About 22,000 women were killed in 2017 compared to 14,000 in KwaZulu-Natal. Limpopo doesn’t have as many cases, but the number is still higher than the global average,” she said.

Abrahams said there had also been anecdotal evidence, which showed the murder of women post 2017 had increased, similarly to that of children compared to 2021.

This finding is further supported by an article in the Daily Maverick dated 03 December 2019 entitled ‘Murder, rape and robbery: Eastern Cape women and children under siege’. The article introduces it’s topic as follows:

“Shocking statistics released by the MEC for Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape has shown an alarmingly high incidence of crimes against women and children in the province, coupled with a dismal conviction rate — but activists say that government should stop doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.”

The articles continues to say: “From April 2018 to March 2019 2,695 children were raped in the Eastern Cape and 375 were sexually assaulted, 4,082 women were raped and 432 sexually assaulted. The total number of crimes against women and children, including murder, attempted murder, assault and robbery was more than 29,000 — almost 1,000 more than the previous year.

Of cases opened with the police, MEC for Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape, Weziwe Tikana, said there were 399 convictions in cases where children were raped and only 40 convictions for the 153 children murdered during the same period.”

Picture credit: https://www.unjaniclinic.co.za/2022/12/01/gender-based-violence-a-serious-problem-that-south-africa-needs-to-face/

Reasons for GBV in South Africa and effect on society

The three main reasons for GBV in South Africa are as follows:

  1. Gender inequality rooted in patriarchy.
    1. Many cultures and religions in South Africa promote male superiority and treat it as the norm.
    1. Patriarchal attitudes lead men to believe they are entitled to sex with women and that dominating a woman demonstrates their masculinity.
  2. Poverty
    1. Women and girls living in poverty are more likely to be sexually exploited including trafficking and prostitution.
    1. An inability for women to leave abusive relationships due to a lack of financial and other resources.
  3. Lack of implementation of protective laws

The Daily Maverick article quotes various people about the situation of GBV in the Eastern Cape.

“Pastor Neville Goldman has been working with the police to fight crime in Nelson Mandela Bay’s gang-ridden areas.

“I will tell women that I can get them a job today, but they don’t want to take it because they want to be at school when the children come home — they fear their kids will be raped on their way home.”

Similarly, a counsellor, who asked not to be named, said:

“We hear the girls talk on a Monday morning. They will tell each other that they were raped, but they never report it. It is like they have given up hope that something will be done,” she said.”

The effects of GBV on society are as follows:

  1. GBV is a human rights violation which undermines the victim’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem. It effects both physical and mental health and can lead to self harm, isolation, depression, and suicidal attempts.
  2. GBV destroys the victim’s physical and psychological integrity. Victim’s don’t feel safe and secure in their environments and are unable to function normally in their families, communities and societies as a result.
  3. GBV is discriminatory and results in affected women and children being marginalized and feeling helpless and inferior. GBV undermines the natural and normal roles of for both men and women in society.
  4. GBV is an obstacle to gender equality and serves to cultivate a heteronormative society. Gender equality allows both genders to play meaningful roles in society and to enjoy equal opportunities and equal visibility.
  5. GBV is under-reported and there is often impunity for perpetrators. Societal suppression of exposing GBV from others makes it difficult to denounce and for the victims to seek help. The children of abused women are impacted psychologically and often form the impression that this behaviour is normal or justified. This becomes an enabler for a culture of violence and GBV.
  6. GBV has a high economic cost. It costs society because medical, psychological, police, and justice services are required to deal with the fall out. In addition, victims of abuse usually underperform at school and work and are frequently unemployed.

Picture credit: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-01-shocking-stats-on-gender-based-violence-during-lockdown-revealed/

Picture credit: https://www.informationng.com/2018/06/south-african-woman-begs-police-to-arrest-her-husband.html

Restorative intervention programme and collaborative action

The following steps and programmes will help to reduce GBV in the Eastern Cape and South Africa more generally:

  1. Government must implement laws to address GBV. In January 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa implemented laws aimed at reducing GBV through a victim centred focus. The laws are there, but they need to be better enforced.
    1. South African could follow the approach of the UK where there are law enforcement officers that deal only with domestic violence and who checkup regularly on the victims and perpetrators. This makes the perpetrators think twice before abusing their victims.
    1. Protection orders need to be enforced better so that abusers can stalk their victims and continue to abuse them. Community members could assist with this be reporting stalking to the police and helping to protect victims.
  2. Funding must be provided to support victims with shelter, medical, legal, and psychological resources.
    1. There need to be more homes for victims of abuse where they can remain long term so they don’t have to return to the abuser due to having no-where to live. The Daily Maverick article stated the following: ““I think we only have four shelters in Port Elizabeth. But also, women can’t stay there for an extended period of time because shelters do not have money. If they have nowhere else to go, they are often forced to go back to their abusers.

“We are basically pushing women back to situations they have been in before — and got hurt,” Ziehl said.”

Picture credit: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-03-17-down-and-out-in-johannesburg-understanding-homelessness/

Picture credit: https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/management-leadership/women-in-business-south-africa/

Picture credit: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-04-30-517f08545f703/

  • Victims need to be empowered through upliftment and education, so they are able to gain meaningful employment and support themselves and their children. Churches and other societies already try to provide some of these services, but they need more funding. Corporates and businesses can assist by providing pro bono training on how to use computers, how to type, and other useful skills.

Picture credit: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-27337520

  • Victims need to be provided with counselling and rehabilitation. Funding needs to be provided for this. Churches, schools and other social organisations need to educate people about the roles of men and women in society. Sexist attitudes need to be strongly discouraged and there needs to be continuous strong messaging that girls are as good as boys and deserve the same opportunities and treatment as men and boys. Children, in particular, need to be taught about respect and equality. Children need to understand that violence is never an acceptable solution to problems and issues.
  • There need to be crisis centres that provide immediate help to victims of rape and GBV. Police, judges, and counsellors must be trained to properly manage and deal with cases of sexual assault and GBV. Medical treatment must be provided to victims and a place in a shelter provided if necessary.

Picture credit: https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/opinion/sa-women-live-in-fear-for-365-days-of-being-the-next-gbv-victim-11fae6d3-6e3f-411a-963a-0fb2ae437622

What can I do?

I can always speak respectfully to women and girls and treat them as equals.

I can, and have, helped prepare rape packs for institutions at our local church.

I can write books where male and female characters have equal status in society and both sexes have equal opportunities.

SourceURL
Daily Maverickhttps://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-12-03-murder-rape-and-robbery-eastern-cape-women-and-children-under-siege/  
Sowetan Livehttps://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-11-01-eastern-cape-accounts-for-most-gbv-cases-with-twice-national-rate  
UNHCRhttps://www.unhcr.org/what-we-do/protect-human-rights/protection/gender-based-violence  
News 24https://www.news24.com/life/relationships/love/her_story/violence-against-women-is-staggeringly-high-in-south-africa-20221202  
Safer Spaceshttps://www.saferspaces.org.za/understand/entry/gender-based-violence-in-south-africa#:~:text=Gender%2Dbased%20violence%20(GBV),and%20traditions%20in%20South%20Africa.  
Ballard Briefhttps://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/gender-based-violence-against-women-in-south-africa  

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

86 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Gender Based Violence in South Africa”

  1. This could as easily be the U.S. I don’t have the statistics, but they are SO under-reported, they are meaningless. No one has done a major study and I think no one really wants the truth. Of at least, MEN don’t want the truth and many women are terrified — with very good reason.

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  5. Ditto the UK. The conviction rates for rape and sexual violence beggar belief. Scotland is debating legislation to take juries out of rape trials because of perceived biases affecting attitudes to complainants based on some lengthy research; needless to say that’s v controversial. As Michael’s essay indicates there have been major efforts to improve treatment of woman and children victims and how their complaints are handled but a recent large report into the Metropolitan police fund it was amongst other things, institutionally sexist which is a major part of the issue It drives me bonkers

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      1. Things have improved but there is so much to do as we are coming from such a long way back. If Michael wants some reading to contextualize why this is (and it applies to all nations sadly) refer him to Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez and/or the Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart . You too, but you’ve no doubt experienced a lot of what is cited

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  6. God Bless us, everyone! I am honored to know that Michael not only comprehends the seriousness of this topic but that he is eager to do whatever he can to turn the tide in favor of redirecting the energies of people, one step at a time! Bravo!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Thank you Robbie for bringing this important social issue forward!
    South Africa is but a microcosm of the entire world. Imagine the atrocities committed each day all around the world! Plus when a war is going on the attacks must happen far more and more brutal I bet?
    By the way, there was a line that I cannot understand? “Protection orders need to be enforced better so that abusers can stalk their victims and continue to abuse them”.
    This sounds like it was written incorrectly?
    thank you again!

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  11. Well done to Michael, he’s handled this subject in a very mature way .
    Sadly GBV is prevalent worldwide and we all need to know as much about it so we can address it. 💜

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  17. A very important, albeit alarming subject that deserves this type of attention. Brave for to your son for helping bring awareness to gender based violence. And, to you for supporting him.

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  19. Thank you for this post, Robbie and Michael. It is well done and properly spreads awareness without glamorizing the issue. As long as people blame the victims (whether for the violence itself or for not being able to escape it), the problem will continue. As long as people look down on the victims as being “less” in any way, lower class, etc., when in fact they are in every race and each economic group, the problem will grow. As long as people turn away, not wanting to be contaminated by the shame of abuse — those people will have blood on their hands.
    Yes, the topic hits close to home to say the least.
    Hugs to you both. ❤

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  20. Well done and pertinent to every culture, not just South Africa. Women and children are being victimized more and more everywhere. The only real solution is to change cultural norms, but in the meantime, meaningful protection and support is needed, as well as prosecution of those who exploit others. Michael has written clearly and with a strong voice. Thank you both for posting this. (K)

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  23. Terrific project and rather shocking statistics to me. 28% of South African men have admitted to at least one rape. That’s very disturbing. It was helpful to read the reasons for Gender-Based Violence.

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  24. That’s a very good piece by Michael. Kudos to him. Sadly, as Geoff points out, the UK is hardly a shining beacon when it comes to this. Improving, but occasionally one step forward and two back.

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  25. There is some great research by your son, Michael, in this article, deserving of praise and recognition. I did know something about the violence in your country but nothing to this extent. It truly saddens me. Perhaps it has always been the case but never before highlighted. I have no idea of a workable answer to it all, but one thing is sure–If things don’t change they will only get worse.

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    1. Hi Danny, sadly this is not changing despite efforts by government to implement new protective laws. Laws aren’t helpful if the support isn’t in place to protect the women and their children. The poor education is likely to create even worse problems in this country. The latest stats are the 70% of South African children cannot read for meaning by the end of Grade 4 (10 years old). That is horrifying and depressing.

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  26. Hi Robbie. Michael did a remarkably good job with this but it makes for sad and terrifying reading. It is a subject swept under the carpet in many countries, but I don’t think things are much different here from what does find its way into media reports.

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  29. Michael did a fantastic job, and I can tell he did a lot of extensive research. I would dare to say that GBV is a global issue. He shines a bright light on the problem. Thanks for sharing, Robbie!

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  30. What a great job Michael did in compiling the information and shocking statistics, Robbie. Sadly, this issue is all over, and I would think in this lifetime, there would be more progress and less victims. The numbers are heartbreaking, but to know that people exist who believe they are above others and entitled to violate others is truly infuriating. Thank you for sharing. ❤️

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    1. Hi Lauren, I believe the problem of GBV is actually escalating and I find it scary. It is as if the human rights women have fought for during the 20th century are gradually being eroded in many places.

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  31. This was a well researched and documented project. Michael should be congratulated! GBV is terrible, and the Michael’s of the world help to put awareness and action into place.

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  32. Thank you for sharing this information, Robbie. I’m sorry GBV is so terrible there but also know there are pockets here in the US where it’s bad, and, disgustingly, a former US president who has superior attitudes thinking he is entitled to dominate women. One would think humans would have made more progress by now. But I’m thankful your son was assigned this project and did such an excellent job on it.

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    1. HI JoAnna, I know that GBV still happens everywhere in the world. I also wonder why our species can’t seem to progress more. I believe it is an education issue often, but some men are just not nice people so you do get GBV in the most surprising families.

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      1. I also wonder why humans aren’t progressing more. There’s such a wide range in human awareness and understanding when it comes to compassion and peace. Education is definitely one component. I think teaching emotional coping skills like we teach basic math and history would help.

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  35. Michael’s research and awareness makes a difference! He’s an inspiration to other men. As a dv survivor, it’s so dispiriting to see how little progress has been made, but we must keep fighting and never give up. 🩶

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    1. Thank you for your comment, I was proud of Michael’s project. I am fortunate, that both my sons and my husband have a lot of respect for women and for elderly people. My father thought the world of his four daughters and brought us up to believe we were just as good as men. I know many women aren’t as lucky and it is very tragic.

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  36. Michael has done excellent work here, Robbie. What needs to happen must start from the cradle. All it needs is for parents to teach their sons to respect women and girls, and that boys are not superior just because they are stronger.

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  39. An excellent article!
    Thank you Michael and Robbie.
    Michael, you are a leader!
    Although S. Africa has the worst record, nowhere on earth has a clean record.
    Women have been rising up for a long time. There is a long time to go.
    I tweeted this out.
    Thank you for this well researched piece!

    Liked by 1 person

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