6 June 2024

Gender-based violence and femicide are a grave issue in many countries around the world, including our own. Many interventions to address this phenomenon have been rolled out by government, however reducing the rates of violence remains a serious challenge. To ensure a coordinated national response to the pandemic of GBVF, government approved the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. The Plan sets out to provide a cohesive strategic framework to guide the national response to GBVF. The plan has six overarching pillars for implementation. While progress is noted, it is reported to be slow.

What is key in addressing GBV is acknowledging that the overwhelming majority of instances of violence are perpetrated by men, against both women and other men. It is generally accepted that in the fight against GBV, men cannot be left behind. The focus in GBVF prevention has therefore increasingly turned to working with men, with interventions motivated by a desire to address the role of men in violence perpetration, and recognition that masculinity and gender-related social norms are implicated in violence.

One such intervention is the One Man Can which is a campaign initiated by Sonke Gender Justice, an NGO working to prevent gender violence in Southern Africa, in partnership with government and various national and international organisations. The campaign is designed to support men and boys to end domestic and sexual violence, to promote healthy, equitable relationship between genders, and to reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS.  The OMC programme is one of few masculinities-focused interventions currently being implemented in this country, and it has been structured and implemented in line with current best-practice literature and understandings of such interventions

The historical context of families and family policy in South Africa is critical when considering GBV. Our entrenched circular labour migration violently disrupted the family structure. These disruptions meant that biological parents, especially fathers, were not living with dependent children in the same household on a daily basis. The absence of the father in a boy’s life has had devastating effects. In many cases, the system left the boy child without a role model. The presence of role models who act as examples of positive masculinities is highlighted as an aspect which can make interventions more successful along with the existence of a supportive peer group. Stable, healthy families are at the heart of strong societies. It is within the family environment that an individual’s physical, emotional and psychological development occurs. The absence of a stable, nurturing family environment has a profoundly damaging impact on the individual, often leading to behaviour which is profoundly damaging to society.

Chairperson,

We take note of the scathing comments by Judge Schoeman in the Omotoso judgment. The judge decried the poor quality of the prosecution and cross-examination by the NPA. In a further expression of this disappointment, the chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality, Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale told the SABC that the weaknesses on the quality of prosecution by the NPA in such a high-profile matter was a microcosm of what is possibly happening to gender-based violence cases in the lower courts across the country. It is clear that the NPA needs to upscale its seriousness more especially around the of GBVF cases.

In the 2023/24 reporting period, 74.1% of the 8 621 new sexual offences matters registered at regional courts constituted of rape cases. These numbers almost double those of the 2021/22 reporting period. Guised as numbers, these are actual human beings. Surely this scenario cannot be normal in any progressive country.

In 2022, President Ramaphosa signed into law three Acts to prevent and combat gender-based violence. These Acts are commonly referred to as the three GBV Acts. Since enactment, some progress has been recorded. In 2024, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act was signed into law and a national structure to oversee a coordinated response established. In our election manifesto, we committed to taking a comprehensive approach to fighting crime through the Integrated Violence and Crime Prevention Strategy. We continue to implement our resolutions.

We have always advocated for a victim-centred approach to matters of GBV. We have 65 Thuthuzela Care Centres nationally which are one-stop facilities which were introduced as part of South Africa’s anti-rape strategy. TCCs are aimed at reducing secondary victimisation. Matters reported at the TCC sites increased from 36 813 in 2022/23 to 41 158 in 2023/24, showing an increment of 12%. Two additional TCC sites were established the last financial year.

Fourteen courts were upgraded in line with the Regulations relating to Sexual Offences Courts, and established as sexual offences courts.

There are 44 GBV shelters in 52 districts and efforts are being made by the police to provide more victim-friendly services. The President announced the establishment of 16 additional sexual offences courts within the financial year.

Towards a disability-centric court system, the Department of Justice further upgraded additional 66 courts in line with the Minimum Service Standards for the Strategy on Reasonable Accommodations and Measures to Access Justice for Court Users with Disabilities at the Lower Courts. This has brought the national footprint of the disability-centric courts to 145.

We are concerned about the shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists for GBV victims. While there are social workers and even GBV-specialised social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists play a crucial role, particularly in cases where victims reported sexual offences years after the incident. Their expert knowledge is necessary for courts to understand the long-term trauma experienced by victims. Special attention needs to be paid to victims with mental disabilities who are recognised as a vulnerable group.

We agree with the sentiments of the former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who said:

There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures, and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable’.