LEST WE FORGET THE VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Sello Tang

Violence against women and children in South Africa has reached intolerable levels, prompting its designation as a pandemic and the country’s foremost enemy, writes Sello Tang. This scourge demands decisive action from both government and society to combat the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

The official launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children by Deputy President Paul Mashatile on 25 November 2024, at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, struck a powerful chord. It called upon the nation to remember the countless women and children who have lost their lives at the hands of family members expected to protect them. Deputy President Mashatile urged men across the country to take an honest pledge to protect and respect women and children from violent crimes and senseless killings.

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe echoed this sentiment, urging survivors of violence to report incidents to authorities, particularly the South African Police Service (SAPS). “We must break the silence and dismantle the barriers that protect perpetrators while shaming survivors,” she stated.

The tragic murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane in October 2024 highlighted the gravity of the crisis. Minister Tolashe condemned the brutal crime, calling for swift police action to bring the perpetrator to justice. Such incidents underscore the horrifying daily realities for many women and children.

UNICEF’s February 2024 report revealed shocking statistics: between October and December 2023, 285 children were murdered, and 2,707 survived attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm. On average, 33 children are violently attacked daily, with three losing their lives. Even more distressing, these numbers likely underestimate the true extent of violence, as many cases remain unreported.

A News24 report further illustrated the crisis: in just three months this year, 957 women and 315 children were murdered, with one child killed daily in the Western Cape alone. Research from mortuaries indicates many child murders are misclassified as natural or accidental deaths, hiding the true scale of abuse.

The stories of women like Judith Mamiki Mpho Moalosi, brutally murdered by her boyfriend on Youth Day 2024, and children witnessing and reliving the murders of their mothers during trials, reveal the devastating personal toll of gender-based violence (GBV). These cases highlight systemic failures, from lenient sentencing to inadequate support for survivors and their families.

Minister Tolashe expressed the nation’s collective grief and outrage, urging communities to support the 365 Days Child Protection Programme of Action and break the cycle of violence. “We must channel this outrage into concrete, sustained action to protect our women and children,” she said.

South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) seeks to prevent and reduce violence against the most vulnerable. The plan includes community-based initiatives, such as the anti-GBVF pledge for men, and the adoption of technology to combat GBV.

The launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, under the theme “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children,” was led by Minister for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, alongside other government leaders and multilateral organisations.

The campaign’s sub-theme, “Harnessing Technology and Innovation to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Accelerate a Gender-Inclusive Digital Economy,” highlights the role of innovation in addressing GBV.

South Africa remains under siege by unscrupulous and heartless individuals who threaten the nation’s future by targeting its women and children. Only through evidence-based, radical strategies and collective action can the cycle of violence be broken. God bless and rid South Africa of violence against women and children!