1. GBVF in South Africa
GBVF 101
GBVF in South Africa
Objective
Understand the scope of the problem in South Africa, and some of the drivers of the problem.
South Africa, sadly, has a fertile ground for violence
South Africa is a deeply violent society and continues to wrestle with the impact of decades of institutionalised racism, sexism, exclusion, structural violence and other factors that have continued to undermine human development and positive social cohesion.
South Africa’s global peace index ranking resembles that of a country at war, with one of the highest murder rates found globally outside of a war zone.
The Victims of Crime Survey reports year on year reveal increased crime levels.
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has reached epidemic proportions
- The levels of vulnerability to violence for all women have been gradually coming into sharp focus over the past years.
- What we know for sure is that as hard hitting as the above statistics are, they represent only a fraction of the problem due to underreporting and under-documenting associated with this epidemic.
- Reflected in media and police reports of the horrific and senseless murder, rape and aiming of women and children in homes and communities.
GBVF in SA is influenced by many factors, and it affects black women disproportionately
GBV is enabled by the prevalence of gender inequality and is rooted in patriarchal gender norms, and it is fueled by alcohol and drug abuse.
The drivers of GBV are a complex interplay of factors that act at individual, relationship, community and societal levels, driven by social and political forces.
Long established and entrenched gender norms normalise GBVF in South Africa and many other societies.
Ideas of masculinity that are centred on male control of women, male sexual entitlement, inequitable gender attitudes, risk-taking and antisocial behaviour.
Ideas about femininity that promote women’s subordination to men encourage them to be complicit with violence and the subjugation of women and expectations on women to acquiesce to male partners’ sexual desires and needs.
Black, poor and rural women suffer disproportionately from the brunt of unemployment and inequality while carrying the responsibility of caring for the emotional, physical and financial needs of children.
GBV affects women throughout their life cycle (before birth to elder abuse) and is often exacerbated by cultural, economic, ideological, technological, political, religious, social and environmental factors.
The epidemic is virulent in 30 hotspots
Click on the Red icons on the map below to see the area name.
More information
Crime Statistics in South Africa https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php
Ranking of South Africa on the Global Peace Index https://countryeconomy.com/demography/global-peace-index/south-africa