SA REMAINS A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR WOMEN

THE scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide remains a terror in the hearts and minds of South Africans despite promises to address policy and tighten the laws that protect women.

The murder of 23-year-old Fort Hare law student Nosicelo Mtebeni, is just the latest horrific killing to take place as the country struggles to come to grips with these crimes.

The Commission for Gender Equality says crimes against women at educational institutions is of particular concern.

Commission chairperson Tamara Mathebula said the grim developments have darkened the meaning of Women’s Month and they view the continued killings of women as an act of confrontation to the law by GBV perpetrators.

Mathebula said the commission spent three years assessing gender transformation and GBV at universities and colleges, and subsequently recommended that the Department of Higher Education and Training institute policies and procedures to deal with GBV.

“We urge the Higher Education Ministry to speedily ensure the implementation of the recommendations we have made in this area by various institutions,” she said.

These recommendations include improving security both on and off campus and focusing on programmes that educate on issues of gender-based violence.

The ministry must implement these recommendations which are solutions to the challenges and scourge of GBV. There are far too many incidents at institutions of higher learning.

While a collective approach is needed by the judiciary, civil society and the Department of Higher Education, measures need to be implemented to make it easier to report the violence.

Unless the conditions for women at educational institutions and other places change, the country will remain a dangerous place for women.