‘Women still living in fear’
While the Covid-19 pandemic drastically changes lives globally, another serious pandemic continues to ravage the lives of women in South Africa.
This month we commemorate and supposedly celebrate the role and excellence of women in society amid grave concerns around the safety of the women of this country. The national crime statistics showed that genderbased violence (GBV) and sexual crimes again increased – and sadly these are just the reported cases.
Under lockdown women and children are more vulnerable, suffering at the hands of men often known to them. Women are still discriminated against in all spheres and gender equality is non-existent. Commentators question what exactly we are celebrating...
A little under a year ago, after the killing of Uyinene Mrwetyana, thousands of protesters added their voices to the #AmINext movement, demanding government take action against perpetrators of GBV and calling for harsher punishments.
Addressing the crowds outside Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa said government agreed “enough is enough”. In an address to the nation later, he shared government’s plan to address the GBV scourge by reviewing laws on domestic violence and sexual offences to prioritise the interests of survivors, and crimes against women and children should attract harsher minimum sentences, with the state opposing bail in all these cases.
In June, Ramaphosa again said he was appalled by the many femicide cases. Many promises have been made, but very little action is seen, and the women of SA are still living in fear.
A year later, these crimes cripple women, preventing them from living to their full potential, and true gender equality remains an idealistic notion.
Vrees vir die virus lê by die meeste mense vlak – tog is daar ook onverskilligheid, veral dié wat nie gesigmaskers dra nie wat ’n mens tot ’n mate beskerm.
Dit is moeilike tye, mense kry nie werk nie, kos is skaars en die basiese het duurder geword – vir sommiges selfs onbekostigbaar. Ons ken almal iemand wat swaarkry in dié tyd.
Die pandemie het ook die beste in die mens na vore gebring. Mense wat hulle ontferm oor mense wat hul werk verloor het, of pensioenarisse wat sonder kind of kraai die moeilike omstandighede moet oorkom. Wonderlike omgee van bure wat die ekstra myl geloop het. Dan is daar die wonderlike organisasies wat in staat