Gender based violence in South Africa

 

Gender based violence has been very close to the hearts of most South Africans for a while now especially for the past year. Women have been experiencing Gender Based Violence (GBV) at its worst to an extent that some have been brutally murdered being the reason for the recent hysteria in South Africa. I would say that women have been the particularly terrified gender between the two due to the amount of murders that have taken place between the 2020 and 2021 nationwide lockdown.

FAMSA (Family and marriage society of South Africa) is an organisation that prides itself on helping families in need of counselling in situations of divorce, domestic violence or any other unhealthy behaviours in a family environment. FAMSA’S mission is “to support individuals, families, organisations and society to build, restore and sustain functional relationships.” Although the organisation helps families in these situations they do not take domestic violence lightly. Statistics of a study conducted by TEARS foundation in 2010 shows that “51% of women in SA say they've experienced GBV, with 76% of men saying they've perpetrated GBV at one stage in their lives” hence the organisation does not take it lightly the numbers are shocking.  A study called “THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN: WHAT THE DATA TELLS US ABOUT LAW AND POLICY REFORM” by A/Prof Lillian Artz at the university of cape town shows shocking statistics as follows

“• South Africa has the Highest rates of reported rape cases in the world (approx. 50 000 cases per annum) depending on definition and analysis.”

“• 3 women are killed every day at the hands of their partners in SA (MRC, 2013, 2014). Ø Up to 6 women a day (Africa Check, 2017). Ø More than half of the murders (57.1%) were by an intimate partner (Africa Check, 2017)”

Members of society are often misinformed or misled to believe that domestic or gender- based violence can be the victim’s fault if they’ve provoked the abuser. Another misperception people often have is that most men abuse women because they are mentally ill. FAMSA is an organisation that would like to put those misperceptions to rest because the organisation offers all tools necessary to prevent this kind of trauma.

As stated above FAMSA’s mission is to combat unhealthy relationships and behaviours. We have all probably heard the saying that South Africa has been struck by two pandemics one being covid-19 and the other domestic violence. We as South Africans have a duty to change the above misperceptions and educate ourselves on the mental, physical and emotional consequences domestic and gender base violence has on the victims and do our duty to combat these behaviours in our families, communities and social circles. Domestic violence affects all individuals in the particular environment it takes place. With that being said if you know anybody experiencing domestic or gender-based violence or you yourself are experiencing it do the right thing and call POWA on (011) 642 4335 or email info@powa.co.za. If you know a family in need of counselling or relationship development call FAMSA on (011) 975 7106.