By Hlulani Mashaba
Johannesburg - Gender-based violence and femicide continues to be a scourge that threatens to erode the gains we have made since the democratic dispensation, that of being a caring nation.
The unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide cases are a reflection of a society we find ourselves in.
More often, communities do not take time to consider the impact of gender-based violence.
The scourge of gender-based violence is far reaching and has devastating consequences not only for victims but for society as a whole.
According to 2021 Statistics South Africa report Crimes Against Women in South Africa, one in five women (21%) have experienced physical violence by a partner. In 2015, South Africa’s femicide rate was nearly four times that of the global figure, while a woman was killed every four hours in South Africa in 2016.
Gender-based violence robs women their constitutional rights and condemns them to a life of perpetual fear.
While we continue to commemorate the heroics of the class of more than 20 000 fearless women who fought gallantly against the Pass Laws in the Union Buildings, the acts of violence perpetrated against women and children are appalling to say the least.
The latest series of attacks of women in Krugersdorp, Western corridor in Gauteng have brought gender-based violence into the spotlight.
The gruesome acts of sexual violence against the eight women have sparked debates across social media platforms and laid bare the intricacies that women continue to find themselves in the country.
This incident is a stark reminder that many innocent women are continuously subjected to the worst form of abuse by senseless men.
It is very disturbing to learn that these women were abused and repeatedly raped by illegal miners commonly known as Zama Zamas.
The harrowing ordeal has left these women feeling helpless and nervous. It is comforting that most perpetrators have been apprehended by the police to face the full might of law.
Gauteng government continues to intensify the fight against gender-based violence. SAPS has established specialised teams to deal with crimes against women and children, including the scourge of human trafficking. Gauteng government has recruited, screened and inducted 620 Gender-Based Violence Brigades.
Over 40 000 households have been visited by the GBVF Brigades for psycho-social support. The fight against GBVF must not only be fought in communities, many young women in institutions of higher learning are victims of this pandemic.
Government has deployed Gender-Based Violence Brigades in all wards and 30 dedicated GBVF social workers were appointed. As a result of our efforts, over 437 895 beneficiaries were reached through various safety programmes, including 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children.
Women across South Africa are faced with different challenges such as gender-based violence, inequality, unemployment and poverty.
Although the challenges highlighted above differ from those the 1956 generation faced, they need the same impetus as that which was demonstrated by this generation of fearless freedom fighters, to eradicate the prevalent challenges that are currently prevalent in our respective communities.
While gender-based violence continues to ravage our communities, all is not lost since the Gauteng Provincial Government has been in the forefront in empowering women. Women continue to occupy key positions in decision-making structures of government and civil society.
More women are now active in the economy as entrepreneurs, thanks to a range of policies including preferential procurement, co-operatives development, small business promotion and skills development.
A total of R5.6 billion was spent on women-owned enterprises in the 2021/22 financial year.
Large numbers of girl learners are enrolling in subjects such as mathematics, science and technology. Gauteng government has increased the access of girls to education, initiated bursaries and training programmes for young women and supported women entrepreneurs.
A total of 39 522 young women have participated in the Welfare-to-Work Programme by transitioning them from welfare into decent employment and providing them with skills or further education opportunities.
Gauteng government puts strong emphasis on creating jobs and economic opportunities for women.
Gauteng government has empowered 50 emerging black firms as contractors and sub- contractors, 50% of these are women-owned businesses.
The provincial government is using infrastructure projects, to support township enterprises as well as women-owned businesses.
Through the Gauteng Provincial Treasury, the provincial government has offered supplier development training targeted at women-owned suppliers to empower and assist them in running their businesses efficiently.
A total of 3 339 unemployed youth have been trained in automotive skills, 1 217 of them are young women.
Since 2017, 60% of the beneficiaries who went through the Tshepo pathway system have been young women.
Mashaba is the deputy director of media relations at the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.