Many rape survivors won’t see justice due to gaps in the system
Rape survivors are often subjected to hostile cross-examinations and long delays that make seeking justice feel like punishment.
Gender Based Violence
Read More » Many rape survivors won’t see justice due to gaps in the system
From reporting rape to receiving care: What you need to know
You don't have to go to the police station first. You can go to any health facility to get medical care and any police station to report and lay a charge.
Nearly half of South Africans experience Intimate partner violence – study
Globally 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 6 men experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. Researchers believe that intimate partner violence may have its roots in childhood.
We are fighting a war – LGBTQI violence activist
An LGBTQI sexual violence survivor and activist is fighting tooth and nail to raise awareness about the challenges they face in their communities. Sexual violence affects every demographic in South Africa. But according to Queen Beyonce Tovhowani Makondo, lesbian, gay…
GBVF Summit: Funding and resources ongoing problem for shelters
Government is not adequately funding and resourcing shelters for survivors of gender-based violence. This was the admission of Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu. During a panel discussion on the final day of the Presidential Summit on GBVF, Zulu said the…
Ramaphosa: SA is at war with its women and kids
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence and femicide as South Africa’s first pandemic and said society was at war with women and children. The President spoke during the second day of the 2nd Presidential Summit on GBVF at Gallagher Estate…
Huge steps taken to end GBVF scourge in SA
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (IMC-GBVF) outlined the progress made by the government in implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF. Led by its Chairperson, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the briefing set the stage ahead of the…
COVID-19 trauma: Survivor puts on a brave face
When Nontuthuzelo Made was admitted to the intensive care unit after testing positive for COVID-19, she thought it was just a matter of days before she’d go home. But the 42-year-old was actually fighting for her life. “Initially, I didn’t…
Obstetric violence: Mother uses trauma to help others
Pamela Madonsela spoke to a Cape Town-based doula who experienced obstetric violence before embarking on her journey of offering a better birthing experience to other moms. “If I had known back then what obstetric violence was, I would have acted.…
Mental illness: Father grateful for family’s support
With family rejection rife in some communities, a former mental health patient has urged relatives to give their loved ones a second shot at life. About a year ago, Melvin Matodzi* was discharged from the Hayani Psychiatric Hospital just outside…
GBV: Kanana community aims to match words with action
On the outskirts of Potchefstroom in the North West, members of the Kanana community have taken it upon themselves to help fight the gender-based violence (GBV) scourge. With South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, having declared GBV as South Africa’s second…
MSF helps KZN residents piece their lives together post floods
Almost three months after the devastating floods in KwaZulu Natal, communities are still pleading for help, stricken after losing their homes and livelihoods. The local arm of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continues to attend to the needs of hard hit areas.…
Sexual abuse: The shame and pain of men and boy survivors
*Matthew* (26), is a Cape Town-based copywriter who was sexually abused by his domestic worker. The abuse began when he was eight years old and ended two years later. “My mother would work long hours and would get back home…
Is justice a reality for GBV survivors in South Africa?
At least 150 people rape cases are reported to the police daily in South Africa. According to the Medical Research Council, only one in nine cases are reported, so the real number could be closer to 1500 cases. Of the…
Healthcare workers under siege at SA’s public facilities
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are going from caregivers to victims of violence at the hands of patients across the country. Doctors and nurses, particularly from Gauteng, have reported being slapped, scratched and kicked while on duty. A junior doctor recalled the…