As South Africa embarks on the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the nation stands confronted by a stark reality: gender-based violence (GBV) remains an overwhelming and devastating issue.
This annual United Nations initiative runs from November 25 to December 10, aiming to raise awareness and combat violence against women and children.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to officially launch the government’s 16 Days of Activism in Rustenburg, North West, on Monday.
His spokesperson, Linah Ledwaba, said: “This year’s activation will be held under the theme “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children’’, with the sub-theme for the campaign being “Harnessing Technology and Innovation to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Accelerate a gender-inclusive digital economy”.
This year’s 16 days of activism comes on the heels of a recent study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which found that over seven million women in South Africa have experienced physical violence perpetrated by men in their lifetime, with more than two million surviving sexual abuse.
The statistics paint a grim picture, showing that 9.8% of women have been affected by sexual violence, with younger women aged 18 to 39 being the most vulnerable.
Recent police statistics from the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year reveal a concerning escalation in the murder and sexual assault of these vulnerable groups compared to the same period last year.
The overall murder count dipped slightly by 0.5%, totalling 6,198; however, the murder rate among women escalated by an alarming 7.9%, reaching 966 victims.
Furthermore, assaults involving grievous bodily harm jumped drastically by 69%, amounting to a staggering 13,757 incidents. The plight of children is equally grim, with murders rising by 7.2% to 314 victims.
Alarmingly, 91 rapes and 12 murders have been reported at educational facilities, including schools and universities, a clear indication that even the young and innocent are not safe from this epidemic.
The HSRC report corroborates these troubling statistics revealing that only three out of every 100 women who experience physical abuse report such incidents to the authorities, and shockingly, only one in five women do the same when it comes to sexual abuse.
The results of this study shed light on GBV and emphasise the need for comprehensive and focused approaches to treat the scourge in South Africa.
Further, it offers a chance to reassess the GBVF response, pinpoint any gaps, and bolster current interventions that are outlined under the several pillars of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP on GBVF).
The council suggests that each government department and its stakeholders should use the study’s conclusions to assess where the nation stands in relation to the tasks indicated in the plan, and the results should be anchored inside the NSP on GBVF.
Where to get help
SAPS Crime Stop
Tel: 08600 10111
Gender-Based Violence Command
Centre
Tel: 0800 428 428
Tel: 0800 GBV GBV
Stop Gender Violence Helpline
Tel: 0800 150 150
SMS *120*7867# from any cell phone
Family and Marriage Society of South
Africa (FAMSA)
Tel: (011) 975 7107
Childline
Tel: 08000 55 555
National Crisis Line
Tel: 086 132 2322
SA National Council for Child Welfare