Corruption virus infected ANC long ago, coronavirus epidemic just made it worse
Even the war against GBV won’t be won with the party still in power and standing like a rock blocking progress
This country finds itself suffocating under the figurative knee of ANC corruption and the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in addition to having to contend with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The fact that the ANC is currently embroiled in allegations of plundering funds meant to alleviate the plight of the most vulnerable in our society during these trying times, shows that it is addicted to corruption.
The corruption virus infected the ANC long before the advent of the coronavirus but to loot during a pandemic, is breathtakingly cynical.
Tomes have been written to catalogue ANC corruption and this is fast becoming a tedious exercise owing to the lack of consequences for the villains. The Zondo Commission currently hears evidence which implicates many ANC cadres in malfeasance. No arrests, no prosecutions and no convictions.
It all seems to be done to lull the nation into a false sense of assurance that something is being done. The National Prosecuting Agency seems to be out of its depth as it was hollowed out during the state capture era.
The ANC has become like a rock in the path of progress and prosperity for SA. It is becoming a daily imperative that this rock be removed through well coordinated political action. The war against corruption will not be won with the ANC in power.
On the GBV scourge there needs to be an analysis of the risk factors that give rise to it and the protective factors to ensure its elimination.
Violence against women is rooted in gender inequality and discrimination fuelled by patriarchy. Attitudes whereby women are still regarded as perpetual minors serve to perpetuate power imbalances between men and women. How many times have we seen men holding placards that read “Stop killing OUR women” during GBV protests? Sometimes even women are guilty of this oversight.
Men need to understand that they do not own women. Most risk factors for GBV emanate from how boys and girls are socialised differently at home and society at large.
I am reminded of a tale I heard long ago wherein children were playing house and assigned each other roles according to their gender. As mothers, the girls would tend to their dolls and boys would be the fathers. This reinforces the stereotype that women are natural nurturers.
What was disturbing was that as fathers, the boys would immediately get down to acting out the beating up of the girls.
This action showed that the children had witnessed or experienced abuse from their homes where the father beat the mother up. The perceptions of normal gender relations between men and women are damaged from the earliest stages.
Fathers are not viewed as loving parents but as administers of punishment for both mothers and children. Mothers will sometimes reinforce this perception by threatening children with a hiding by the father when they go astray.
Low levels of education especially for girls, increases their vulnerability to males since their opportunities for financial independence are severely hampered.
They then have to depend completely on men and fall prey to aberrations such as prostitution, slaying, blessing and so forth. Such dependence on men reinforces a sense of ownership in these men.
It is important that girls are provided with the same education as boys to enhance their state of independence.
For SA to breathe and conquer the scourges of corruption and GBV we need to jail the corrupt and punish them at the polls. Perpetrators of GBV must be brought to book as we ensure the scourge is eliminated through the appropriate socialisation and education of OUR boys and girls.