Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

03 September 2024

3-minute read

53 thousand emergency gender-based violence calls in a 4-year period – shocking statistics indeed!

The TEARS Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg have revealed these as the main findings in a disturbing report conducted by them. Mara Glenny from the TEARS Foundation and GBV research specialist, Lisa Vettan, verified the stats in South Africa of high incidents of rape and abuse. Research revealed that many in-bound calls came in around lunchtime with an increase of calls in periods over holidays like Christmas; as well as many calls coming in from un-serviced areas that do not have access to rape facilities.

The non-personal data reflected trends for both rape and domestic violence. Police statistics disclose about 120 000 cases of domestic violence, and 50 000 cases of sexual offences, on an annual basis. Although victims are encouraged to talk out; gender based violence is poorly reported with approximately only 1 in 9 cases reported. So while this report reflects cries for help, it does not show what happens to the victims after, nor how these cases are resolved.

While the laws related to gender based violence are perfectly adequate, Lisa says we are failing in that they are not being implemented. This is due to an insufficient budget; low levels of attention being paid to counselling services at places like shelters; and ineffective prevention programs. Lisa states that, “To put up a billboard 3 times a year to say stop hitting women is not very effective”.

Domestic violence may occur in a context where a man undergoes a cycle of getting angry when he feels his masculinity has been offended, feeling that his wife has questioned his role as head of the household, and then lashing out. Lisa feels that men need to be educated not on what they mustn’t do, but what they should do. Through improved and longer-lasting programs, such men can be taught how to calm down and not act on their impulses.  Another point raised is that doing away with the “one size fits all’ approach will lead to better outcomes. Statistics for domestic violence, rape and femocide are different in different parts of the country, and once people understand the different cause in relation to their areas, more relevant solutions can be applied.

Another key issue is that the Department of Social Development have not distributed funding to the various organizations dealing with these cases, and that most of these are also underfunded. Mara cited the long-term solution in dealing with moral, social and economic issues is definitely ‘education’, stating that any program that they identify to assist with the high incidence of rape and abuse ‘would have to be funded’.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim.