Daily Dispatch

Hidden cost of abuse, violence

UNTIL December 10, the world is involved in the annual campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Genderbased Violence (GBV), which in South Africa is more specifically focused on violence against women and children.

There can be little doubt that GBV is both intimate and horrific.

According to the United Nations, 2012 statistics showed that half of all women killed had died at the hands of their partners or members of their families, and that one in three women had experienced sexual or physical violence, mostly from a partner.

This is why it is so difficult to get a handle on this problem.

We know that South Africa has among the highest incidence of gender-based violence in the world.

We also know that all of us, including those not overtly affected by GBV, need to take the 16 Days of Activism campaign far more seriously, and to make sure its impact lasts throughout the year and not just until December 10.

What we do not know is the full extent of the economic cost of these crimes.

The closest we have come to assessing the costs was two years ago when accounting firm KPMG, in collaboration with Sonke Gender Justice, produced a report titled Too Costly to Ignore: The economic impact of gender-based violence in South Africa.

Their findings were alarming: “Based on prevalence rates of between 20% and 30% of women experiencing gender-based violence within a given year, this study estimates that the economic impact of that violence is between at least R28.4-billion and R42.4billion for the year 2012-13, representing 0.9% and 1.3% of GDP respectively.”

Most of this enormous cost is borne by individuals and households – in many cases those who can least afford it.

But because information is scarce, the cost is thought to be far higher.

The KMPG report says the figures should be considered “a partial or minimum estimate” since not all associated costs were accounted for because much of the necessary data is not available.

It recommends that the government strengthen data collection on GBV.

In launching the 16 Days of Activism campaign in the Eastern Cape, the provincial police commissioner LieutenantGeneral Liziwe Ntshinga identified alcohol and drug abuse as the biggest contributors to GBV.

If one adds the costs of other crimes committed as a result of substance abuse, then it is clear that the country is facing a crisis which is massively costly – and this remains largely unacknowledged.

The government needs to be far more proactive in dealing with GBV in particular, and substance abuse in general.

Data collection is one vital area that must be strengthened.

Preventative campaigns rather than punitive action need to be far better resourced, directed and managed.