Stop killing us. Women are killed by their intimate partners in South Africa at five times the global average, and women with disabilities are ten times more at risk. Photo: Sharon Seletolo/Getty Images
TDespite South Africa having progressive laws to combat such crimes, the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) is widespread across all socio-economic statuses.
That's one of the findings of a report released Tuesday by the Tears Foundation, a nonprofit that supports victims of rape and sexual assault.
The foundation recorded 53,004 verified phone calls from GBV victims seeking help, and the data was collected from 2020-2023.
Corné Davis from the University of Johannesburg, who analysed the foundation's “Help at your Fingertips” USSD mobile phone data, said the data showed that gender-based violence affected high-, middle- and low-income earners.
Limpopo, one of the country's smallest provinces by population, had the highest number of reports, at 104 per 100,000 people.
“We expect the highest numbers to come from the largest states, so this is an important finding that shows where help is needed,” Davis said.
This was followed by the third smallest province, North West, with a call rate of 103, Free State with 99, Mpumalanga and Gauteng with 97 and 93 respectively. The Western Cape had the lowest calls per capita with 51/100 000, followed by the Eastern Cape with 52, the Northern Cape with 59 and KwaZulu-Natal with 68.
“We found that GBV occurs throughout the year, but we were able to identify peak periods in September, November and October,” Davis said.
“Interestingly, the highest number of calls were recorded during the lunch break, between 12pm and 1pm, suggesting that victims often use the workplace as a safe place to seek help.”
One of the most worrying aspects of this crisis is the low rate of reporting to police.
Davis said only 7 percent of cases are reported because systemic flaws in the criminal justice system discourage people from seeking help. Police are under-resourced and underequipped to handle rape cases, and delays in DNA testing erode public trust, he added.
“When I spoke to the NPA recently, they said they were trying to catch up, or were doing their best to catch up.”
This is an issue with analysing evidence, as “things don't add up and it's not done properly” and police officers are often not trained to deal with the trauma of GBV.
In a patriarchal society, people often ask: “What on earth did she do?”
Davis said the free, anonymous service was vital because it made people feel more comfortable reporting crimes.
Moreover, the stigma surrounding GBV silences both victims and their families – at least one in three women and some men experience abuse, making it even more important to provide confidential services to victims, as silence and shame perpetuate the cycle of violence, she said.
South Africa has one of the most advanced legal frameworks for addressing GBV, but implementation of these laws is often weak, said Tears Foundation founder Mara Benny.
“So why are we letting women down?” Benny asked.
Many studies and efforts to address GBV are conducted from afar, without engaging victims at the individual level.
“Women who have been abused or raped need personal attention, they need one-on-one help, whether that's a phone call, an email or whatever,” Benny said.
She called on the government to prioritise a more individualised approach and ensure that each woman's case is dealt with in a way that takes into account her circumstances, language and emotional needs.
The data also highlights the role of the workplace as a potential safe haven for GBV victims, with many reporting abuse during working hours, likely because they feel safer there than at home.
Selisha Bharat, founder of legal services platform Lawyered Up, said there were not enough safe spaces for victims.
“There aren't enough safe homes. There aren't enough women's shelters. Even if you report someone, where do you go?” Bharat asked, noting that many victims are financially dependent on their abusers and have nowhere else to turn.
“Their workplace is now a safe place.”
Ms Davis said the findings highlighted the important role employers could play in supporting victims of GBV and helping them discover their options by providing access to confidential resources such as psychologists and legal advice.