Pretoria – In response to the escalating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, the Presiding Officers of Parliament have pledged to use their constitutional powers to support national efforts in eradicating GBV. This commitment was reaffirmed in the wake of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, a United Nations campaign held annually from November 25 to December 16. The 2023 campaign, with the theme “Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one behind,” will launch in Mpumalanga on November 25.
According to Parliament of South Africa, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr. Amos Masondo, the recent incident in Cape Town, where a 26-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by her husband, underscores the urgency of addressing this issue. South Africa’s rate of women and children killed daily is estimated to be five times higher than the global average.
Despite a slight decrease in sexual offenses reported between July and September, as released by the Minister of Police Mr. Bheki Cele, the statistics remain alarming. Over 10,000 rape incidents and numerous cases of attempted murder and assault against women were reported during this period, with most incidents occurring at the homes of the victims or perpetrators.
The Presiding Officers recognize the government’s efforts, including the enactment of three crucial pieces of legislation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, aimed at strengthening the response to GBV. These include amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters), providing for a comprehensive National Register for Sex Offenders, and the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, which seeks to protect survivors in court proceedings. The Domestic Violence Amendment Bill focuses on electronic applications for protection orders and domestic violence safety monitoring notices.
In addition, the National Assembly recently approved the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill, an outcome of the Presidential Summit Declaration against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide of 2018. The forthcoming National Council will adopt a procedural approach to GBV and femicide cases in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and align its priorities to various national frameworks.
The establishment of the National Council and the development of a National Strategic Plan against GBV, to be reviewed every five years, are further steps towards a systematic and concerted response to this crisis. The Presiding Officers emphasized the necessity of combating violence within domestic environments and urged the public to join forces with law enforcement and support these comprehensive initiatives.
This concerted effort aims to create safer homes and communities, empower women to live without fear, and eventually relegate the current distressing statistics to history.