President speaks out on gender-based violence

South Africa is deeply traumatised by violence against women and children, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“While we celebrate the gains made in 30 years of freedom and democracy, our country is deeply traumatized by violence against women and children. This violence is a betrayal of our Constitution. It is an affront to our common humanity,” the president said Friday.

In his address at the commemoration of National Women’s Day in Pofadder in the Northern Cape, the President said the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continues.

“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.”

He told those gathered at the Dennis Nel Stadium that the government has opened additional courts for sexual offences and expanded the network of Thuthuzela care centres.

“We have introduced more victim-friendly services in police stations across the country. We recently passed legislation to establish a Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Council to mobilize and coordinate work across society.”

President Ramaphosa, together with Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and other government officials, signed a pledge to South African men to end gender-based violence and femicide during the national Women’s Day commemoration at the Denis Nel Stadium in Pofadder.

HSRC Survey

The First Citizen also referred to the first ever national survey by the Human Sciences Research Council on the prevalence of gender-based violence in a democratic South Africa. According to him, the results of the survey will help in addressing gender-based violence.

The survey was conducted in 2022 using a random sample of people interviewed at home.

It measured issues such as physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, as well as controlling behavior between intimate partners. The detailed results of the study will be released in the coming weeks.

The study found that approximately 7% 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 graduated from high school, and women who were unmarried but living with a partner.

“Seven percent may not sound like a lot, but this figure is the equivalent of 1.5 million women. According to the HSRC study, in just one year, more than one and a half million women in our country have experienced physical or sexual violence. That is more than the entire population of the Northern Cape.

“These are not statistics. These are people. These are women who have endured trauma that no one should have to go through.”

The president said the research shows that physical violence begins at a young age, often among adolescent girls and young women, and continues into adulthood.

“About 13% of women who had ever been in an intimate relationship reported experiencing economic abuse from their partner. That’s why we need to address the huge income inequality between men and women.”

He stressed that on average, women receive a quarter of their income from subsidies, while this percentage is much lower for men.

“We must therefore create more jobs and other economic opportunities for women, so that they are less vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.”

Changing behavior

The survey also found that 4% of men reported having committed physical violence against a woman in the previous 12 months.

“This amounts to over 600,000 men. This makes clear what we all know. 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 commitment to be part of the solution. To take responsibility for their actions.”

He called on men not to punish women, but also urged them to treat women as equals and with dignity.

“If we want to end gender-based violence, we have to work together as a society. We have to work together, both men and women, both young and old,” he said.

This year, International Women’s Day marks the 68th anniversary of 20,000 women from diverse backgrounds marching to the Union Buildings to protest against the apartheid regime’s pass laws. SAnews.gov.za