GBV: South Africa continues to fight the scurge

Gender-based violence and femicide continue to besiege the women of South Africa but the fight against the scourge will continue unabated.

President Cyril Ramaphosa who appeared in the National Assembly to answer questions on Thursday, said“Violence against women and children is a deeply entrenched problem in South Africa, which continues despite clear political commitment and several measures taken to combat it.

“Our country has high levels of socioeconomic inequality, which can lead to increased levels of violence, including gender-based violence. Cultural norms, patriarchal values and toxic masculinity perpetuate gender inequality and contribute to violence against women.”

The President highlighted that despite this, the government continues to undertake work to root out the scourge.

This work includes improving how the criminal justice system responds to gender-based violence.

“Through the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which was really crafted by the women of our country and presented at the first gender-based summit, we have embarked on several strategies to end violence against women.

“Critical among these is the work underway to improve the response of the criminal justice system to gender-based violence, with a focus on more effective law enforcement, better training for police officers and streamlined legal processes,” President Ramaphosa said.

He highlighted that even legislative steps have been taken to address the scourge.

“The laws we have enacted have led to increased sentences for offenders, tighter bail and parole conditions and provided greater protection for women at risk of domestic violence. Through specialised units like the NPA Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit, the state is securing more convictions and longer sentences for perpetrators of violence against women and children.

“Ending gender-based violence requires a sustained, multi-pronged approach that addresses the underlying structural issues in South African society and changes cultural norms and attitudes. It is a long-term challenge that requires the commitment of not just political leaders but society as a whole.

“In this regard, we should commend the National Assembly for passing the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill earlier this week. This is a vital piece of legislation that will strengthen our national response to this scourge,” he said.

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The President detailed some of the efforts to work with communities in the fight against violence targeted at women and children.

“A key focus of the [Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Offences Action Plan] is active partnerships with civil society organisations, including faith-based organisations and traditional authorities that help to strengthen positive norms and values in communities.

“The SAPS has also undertaken the Children’s Programme, which aims to identify and ensure sustainable protection of children at risk of crime. The SAPS also conducts awareness-raising programmes addressing any emerging trends and tendencies that make children particularly vulnerable to becoming crime victims,” President Ramaphosa said.