Ways to eradicate GBV discussed at gathering

A MEMBER of the University of Kwazulu-natal student representative council (SRC) said it was important for the university to have conversations on gender-based violence (GBV) because students had been victims of and perpetrators of GBV.

A two-day colloquium on eradicating GBV, the brainchild of SRC member Bathandwa Mki, wraps up today. Speaking on the theme, Are we doing enough?, MPL Shameen Thakur-rajbansi, the leader of the Minority Front, said for over a decade GBV has been occupying an increasing space in debates at the legislature.

She said as legislators, they were told not to draft intrusive laws and that people must shape laws through participation. She said South Africa had not reached the 2015 millennium development goals, and added that correct interventions on GBV could change the country, and make it a place where citizens felt safer.

“People’s input at all times will determine the balance of societal power that is achieved as a democratic country based on the rule of law. Together we can achieve both the sustainable development goals as well as our national development plan by 2030. We don’t have a lot of time, just about nine years left.”

SAPS statistics for 2019/2020 showed 42 289 rape cases as well as 7 749 sexual assault cases had been recorded. Statistics for the first quarter of 2021 showed an increase of 74.1% in sexual offences cases, at 12 702.

This Women’s Month, the Department of Social Development (DSD) launched the Gender-based Violence and Femicide Strategic plan, which was embraced by the DSD in Kwazulu-natal. The plan consists of six pillars.

“Looking at these, you will find that they only tackle the problem symptomatically and not preventively,” Thakur-rajbansi said.

She added that in order to fully answer the question of whether enough was being done to address GBV, poor regulation-making and flawed policies needed to be brought to the fore.

“’Last year when the liquor stores were closed because of hard lockdown measures, GBV reduced. As levels were relaxed, GBV increased. The Moral Regeneration Movement began in 2006 and was placed in the care of former president Jacob Zuma, and is now under Deputy President David Mabuza. This programme has an estimated budget of R350 million, which is generally eaten up with talk shops,” Thakur-rajbansi said.

Advocate Omashani Naidoo of the National Prosecuting Authority encouraged victims of GBV not to withdraw cases and added that those who were victims of sexual abuse should report it to the police.

She said some victims were sexually abused at an early age by relatives and often did not tell anyone about it throughout their lives, yet they faced the perpetrator at family gatherings.

“It can be 10 years, 20 years later; report it. It's never too late,” Naidoo said.