While government has the legal framework in place to eradicate this scourge, it seems as if we are not winning this war on women and children as we are still living in a patriarchal society influenced by culture and societal norms. A study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) looking at the reality of GBV across all nine provinces in South Africa and handed over to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) on 18 November 2024 reveals glaring statistics. It found that 33,1% of all women aged 18 years and older had experienced physical violence in their lifetime which represents a staggering 7 310 389 women. 4.3 % of this total are women with a disability. The study has also found that 9,9% of women had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, which translates to 2 150 342 women. According to the World Health Organisation women with disabilities are even more at risk of experiencing GBV and higher rates of sexual violence compared with those without disabilities.

The HSRC study states the causes of GBV as ‘deeply ingrained gender norms and power dynamics, with strong cultural reinforcement of traditional gender roles and a troubling acceptance of male aggression and dominance.’ This study also revealed that 70 % of men still hold the view that women should obey their husbands; 10% men believe that women are to blame if they get raped. These findings clearly show that systematic change is necessary and particularly the language of religion and culture. It must be stressed, however, that GBV is not just prevalent in poor communities, but across all levels of society.

Cultural, religious and societal practices that must change to help prevent and combat GBV

The societal practice of fathers having many children with different women which leads to the absent-father syndrome and lack of guidance for the male child, who in turn becomes prone to GBV against girls and their partners. The same could be said of the high levels of teenage pregnancy: it is society that needs to change. In certain religions women still get chastised if they are pregnant before marriage where the church puts the woman under discipline but not the male. In some cultures, labola is higher if a woman is still a virgin, and so it goes on.

Bigger efforts should be undertaken by all stakeholders to shift and transform gender norms to align with legislation, support non-governmental organisations to work with communities, traditional leaders, youth centres, and schools, and create a safe space for perpetrators to be assisted in working on themselves.