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16 Days of Activism
Working Together To End Gender-Based Violence
By Jessie Taylor
As South Africa ends the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on every citizen to take action against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. The President outlined the urgent need for societal change, emphasizing that everyone has the responsibility to combat GBV. “Violence against women and children in our country is pervasive,” he said. “Women and children are being beaten, assaulted, and killed in the streets, in the workplace, at places of learning, and in their homes.”
Understanding Gender-based Violence In South Africa
South Africa continues to grapple with high rates of GBV, particularly within domestic settings. According to a 2023 report by UN Women, 60% of femicide victims globally were killed by someone close to them, often in their own homes. Locally, the Human Sciences Research Council’s National Gender-Based Violence Study found that a fifth of men surveyed admitted to committing sexual or physical violence against their partners.
The study is a groundbreaking initiative that provides a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and dynamics of GBV across the country. Conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and supported by a range of partners, this baseline survey explores physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence among South Africans aged 18 and older. The study reveals high levels of GBV in South Africa, with physical and sexual violence being particularly pervasive. Women with disabilities and those living in rural or informal areas face higher rates of violence. The data also highlight alarming levels of emotional abuse, economic coercion, and controlling behaviours, often perpetuated within intimate relationships.
Among the key findings were:
Over a third (37%) of women aged 18 and older reported experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Approximately 26% of everpartnered women disclosed lifetime IPV, while 15% reported IPV within the past 12 months.
Around 21% of men admitted to perpetrating IPV, highlighting the levels of violence within intimate relationships.
18% of women experienced economic control or deprivation by their partners.
Men’s perpetration of violence was also scrutinised, showing significant links to societal norms and childhood experiences of abuse. Such insights underline the entrenched nature of GBV in cultural and structural frameworks, as well as the need for targeted interventions.
The report identifies a range of drivers behind GBV, including:
Gender norms and patriarchal attitudes normalise male dominance and control.
Socio-economic inequalities lead to increased vulnerability for women, especially in economically marginalised settings.
Historical legacies of violence, rooted in South Africa’s apartheid-era systemic oppression.
The pandemic exacerbated GBV, with lockdowns isolating victims and limiting access to support systems. A rise in violence during this period highlights the urgent need for resilient and accessible support frameworks.
A collective responsibility President Ramaphosa linked IPV to deeply ingrained sexism. He called for addressing the belief that women are the “property” of their partners, which perpetuates abuse. “Intimate partner violence remains the most prevalent form of genderbased violence in South Africa,” he said.
To end GBV, the President stressed the importance of prevention, particularly through reshaping how men and boys are socialized. Reflecting on his participation in a Young Men and Boys Indaba, he shared insights into how toxic masculinity often replaces an inherent sense of empathy.
“At some point in their lives, they were exposed to a form of toxic masculinity in which ill-treating women is seen as macho and manly,” he said. This mindset must be eradicated by teaching young men about equality, healthy relationships, and the importance of consent.
The President commended initiatives like the Pledge for South African Men to End Gender-Based Violence, where men publicly commit to rejecting violence and supporting women’s rights. He urged more men to join these efforts, saying, “By remaining silent when they know that their friends, classmates, or co-workers are abusers, they are complicit in the crime.” Creating environments where women feel safe to report abuse is critical. “We need to create safe spaces – whether in schools, religious settings, workplaces, or police stations –where women can speak freely about experiences of abuse and where they can find care and support,” he said.
President Ramaphosa urged all sectors of society to unite to address GBV.
“Just as gender-based violence affects everyone, so too we must all work together to overcome it,” he said, calling on businesses, trade unions, and public servants to join the effort,” he said.
“None of us must look away. Gender-based violence and femicide have no place in our society.”
