Cyril Ramaphosa calls on men to take responsibility for their actions if gender-based violence is to end

Today, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote speech at the National Women’s Day celebration organised by the Khâi-Ma Municipality in Pofadder, Northern Cape, with the theme: “Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom for Women’s Development”.

“Today, as we celebrate 30 years of freedom and democracy, we need to take stock. We need to reflect on how far we have come. And we need to think about the challenges that stand in the way of the emancipation of South African women.”

The President stressed that while we celebrate the progress made over the past 30 years, our country is deeply traumatized by violence against women and children.

“Guided by our National Strategic Plan, we have introduced new laws that protect survivors of gender-based violence, improve police responses and ensure tougher sentences for perpetrators.”

“We recently passed legislation to establish a Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide to mobilize and coordinate work across society.”

The Human Sciences Research Council has just completed the first-ever national survey of the prevalence of GBV in a democratic South Africa.

The study found that approximately seven percent of women aged 18 and over had experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months.

This percentage was highest among young women, black women, women who had completed high school, and women who were unmarried but living together.

According to the HSRC study, more than one and a half million women in our country have experienced physical or sexual violence in just one year.

The research shows that physical violence starts at a young age, often in girls and young women during puberty, and continues into adulthood.

About 13 percent of women who had ever been in an intimate relationship reported experiencing economic abuse by their partner.

“That is why we need to address the huge income inequality between men and women. That is why we need to create more jobs and other economic opportunities for women. So that they are less vulnerable to exploitation and abuse,” he said.

It is striking that four percent of the men in the study reported having committed physical violence against a woman in the previous twelve months.

“Men need to change their behaviour. Men need to change their attitudes. That’s why today we’re calling on all South African men to make a pledge to be part of the solution. To take responsibility for their actions. To never raise a hand against a woman. If we want to end gender-based violence, we need to work together as a society,” the president said.

During his speech, he stressed that South Africa is still a country with inequality and that black women are still the face of poverty.

“Black women are more likely to be unemployed, poor and uneducated.”

He goes on to say that over the past 30 years, through the struggle of women, much has been done to improve the status and circumstances of South African women.

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the historic Women’s Charter. It is the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Women’s Charter for Effective Equality. These charters continue to guide our efforts.”

“Women in South Africa enjoy rights and freedoms under our constitution. They benefit from progressive legislation. Women now have significant representation in parliament, in government and in the judiciary,” he continues.

Thanks to affirmative action policies, there are now more women in key positions in the labor market.

He added that South Africa has one of the highest rates of female literacy.

“Female students earn more bachelor’s degrees. Young women make up the majority of students in higher education institutions.”

About 66 percent of Presidential Employment Stimulus participants are women.

“As a government of national unity, we are united across the political spectrum by our shared commitment to improving the lives of South African women. To grow our economy and accelerate development, women must take their rightful place as active participants in the economy.

Through the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme, approximately 8,000 women have been trained to set up and run a business.

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