Pretoria: Violence, particularly against women and children, remains a significant issue in South Africa, demanding collective action from all corners of society to address, writes Neo Semono. The annual campaign, 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, begins today. This initiative, which South Africa adopted in 1998, aims to eradicate all forms of gender-based violence, with children being included a year later in 1999.

According to South African Government News Agency, the statistics paint a grim picture, with gender-based violence and femicide cases rising from 126,508 in 2021/22 to 132,110 in 2022/23. The third quarter of 2023/24 alone saw 100,954 cases reported. This phenomenon affects not just able-bodied women, but also women with disabilities, children, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, showing the indiscriminate nature of this crisis.

The South African National Gender-Based Violence Prevalence Study, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council, reveals that approx
imately 7.31 million women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime. During national Women’s Day celebrations in August, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged these challenges, highlighting the economic and social inequalities that exacerbate the issue, particularly affecting black women.

While the government has implemented various measures to combat gender-based violence, including legal reforms and strategic plans, the persistence of patriarchal structures continues to contribute to an environment of violence. The government has enacted laws such as the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and launched the National Strategic Plan on GBVF in 2020, backed by over R20 billion to empower women economically.

Efforts to improve women’s representation in Parliament and the judiciary and initiatives like SheTrades aim to support women’s economic participation. However, the fight against gender-based violence requires a societal change in behavior and attitude
s. President Ramaphosa has called for a collaborative effort to address this issue, emphasizing the need for respect and equality for all individuals.

The pledge against gender-based violence, available online, encourages men to become allies and part of the solution by promoting positive behavior and taking responsibility for their actions. The ongoing battle against GBVF requires continuous attention and action from all sectors of society to ensure a safer future for women and children in South Africa.