South African women facing GBV in alarming numbers, as 16 Days of Activism approaches

19 November 2024

The Human Sciences Resource Council’s (HSRC) revelation that in 2022 over a third of South African women were abused or faced physical violence, is a national disgrace and scandal pointing to a severe lack of action by government to protect South Africans from this heinous crime.

The study conducted by the HSRC in 2022 and presented to the Minister of Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, on 1 October 2024, shows that at least 7 million women in South Africa have experienced physical violence, while more than 2 million women have survived sexual abuse.

These figures represent human lives destroyed by GBV but only represent women who have spoken out, while many continue to live in silence and fear.

Despite national efforts to combat gender-based violence in successive administrations, the government's actions have clearly been insufficient, and more must be urgently done to protect South African women.

Although the National Council on Gender-Based Violence Act took effect from 15 November this year, the DA calls for its work to begin urgently. Not a day is available for delay, and we will closely monitor its work.

This Council, constituted to provide a whole of society approach to gender-based violence, must provide workable plans of action to combat the demon that GBV has shown itself to be and must address the nation on these as soon as possible

The HSRC makes key recommendations:

That the Department of Health undertakes a review of available mental health services, which must be strengthened,

That in schools, children are further educated on consent and types of behavior that are unacceptable and must be reported,

That economically, we address gender inequality, particularly as black women face the worst unemployment rate of any demographic, and

That law enforcement protections are strengthened, with legal processes expedited.

In addition to this, it is the position of the DA that more must be done to address gender-based violence, including:

Providing sufficient shelters for survivors of abuse,

Ensuring effective court services,

Ensuring that SAPS and the NPA provide survivors with timely updates on the statuses of their cases, as well as,

Ensuring survivors’ interests are placed foremost in criminal justice proceedings.

The National Council on Gender-based violence, therefore, has a lot to work with. All that is missing is action.

The DA will work to have this moral imperative addressed seriously to restore dignity to South Africa and all women.

Issued by Karabo Khakhau, DA National Spokesperson, 19 November 2024