Gender-based violence; a pandemic in South Africa

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Email: Anelisag98@gmail.com

Twitter:@ Anelisa_Sibanda

Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 9th of August. This day is to honour and celebrate women in the country, however, women in South Africa feel as if there is no need to celebrate this day as their rights are not considered.

 Women die every day in the hands of men in South Africa. Statistics show that South Africa has the highest number of gender-based violence in the world, including rape and domestic violence. 

 Sbongakonke Dlamini (30) tells on how scary it is to be a woman in this country. “We live in fear, we are afraid that we might be the next victims of gbv,” said Dlamini. Dlaminiadded that the government should do something to ensure that all women are safe in the country.

 Nokubonga Ndlala(23) a final year Education student at TUT said she does not feel at ease walking around, let alone be in a taxi that is full of men as she does not know what might happen to her. 

 “The government isn’t doing enough to help stop gbv, not enough measuresare taken to deal with the perpetrators, they are not given enough punishment,” said Ndlala. 

Ndlala also added that communities should learn the whistle challenge which is used to alert community members of any type of crime taking place in the community and help catch the perpetrator Walking to the shop is a nightmare as they might be the next, they always live in fear. 

 

“I am even afraid to leave for school next year, every day on the news there is a woman who has been murdered,” said 20-year-old Nkosinomusa Ngwenya. Ngwenya also said she has stopped watching the news as they more fear and panic and that she is living her life like it is the last day of being alive.