To say that South Africa is unsafe for women and children is to confront a painful truth many carry quietly. Ordinary acts like visiting the post office, going on a date, or being in a romantic relationship could become a dangerous, even deadly, situation. One in four women in SA will experience intimate partner violence over the course of their lives and almost half of SA’s children have experienced neglect, mistreatment, abuse, or violence.
Government’s decision to classify gender-based violence (GBV) as a national disaster is an admission that it’s not a women’s issue; it’s a social crisis that has spiralled out of control. It’s an acknowledgement that we need immediate action, backed by the right laws, policies and interventions, to ensure we don’t pass this national disaster on to the next generation. The National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide is just a piece of paper without state funding to implement it.
Similarly, the draft Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016 to strengthen alcohol regulation has been stuck in legislative limbo for years, gathering dust while heavy drinking continues to fuel violence against women and children. Alcohol use by male partners is a major driver of abuse, with women three times more likely to experience violence by a partner who drinks heavily. Efforts to address GBV must be anchored in three goals: prevent violence before it occurs, support survivors and ensure our justice system works for women.
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The state spends significantly more on its response to GBV than preventing violence happening. Prioritising prevention is not only morally urgent; it is economically sound. The public health and economic cost of violence against women and children costs the country billions of rands, a drain that could be significantly reduced through sustained early intervention.
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