Amendments and legislative measures have been introduced to address gender-based violence (GBV) and rape. Key developments include:
This Act protects individuals in abusive relationships and has been amended to enhance the rights of survivors and streamline protection orders.
This legislation aims to combat sexual violence and includes provisions for the protection of vulnerable groups, such as children and people with disabilities.
This amendment introduced minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses, including rape, aiming to ensure harsher penalties for perpetrators.
This law aims to combat human trafficking, which is often linked to GBV, providing measures for prevention, protection, and prosecution.
This comprehensive plan outlines the a multi-sectoral approach to combat GBV, focusing on prevention, response, and support for survivors.
Changes have been made to improve the handling of sexual offenses bylaw enforcement, ensuring that cases are processed more sensitively and efficiently.
This recent amendment further clarifies definitions related to consent and expands the scope of sexual offenses, reinforcing the legal framework surrounding GBV.
Deaths and abuse of young women calls for intensified action against GBV. Nosicelo Mtembeni (University of Fort Hare),Uyinene Mrwetyana (University of Cape Town), Zolile Khumalo(Mangosuthu University of Technology), Takalani Mbulungeni(University of Venda) are just a few of the thousand womenwhose lives were cut short by GBV.
Releasing second-quarter crime statistics for 2023/2024, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that South Africa recorded 10,516 rapes, and 14,401 assaults against female victims in July, August, and September. In the same period, 881 women were murdered (South African Government)
South Africa has the highest rape rate in the world of 132.4. Some 66,196 incidents in per 100,000 people.
Botswana is the second with a rate of rape - 92.90 and 1,865incidents in per 100,000 people.
Lesotho has 82.70 rape rate and around 1,777 incidents in per 100,000 people.
Swaziland recorded 849 incidents per 100,000 people with 77.50 rape rate.
Bermuda is the fifth country with 67.30 rate of rape and 43incidents in per 100,000 people.
Act (PAIA) to get the Police Ministry to provide detailed responses around the unsolved cases, said the statistics —which also showed that 61 740 of rape cases were closed without the perpetrators being brought to book
These include 5 161 rape cases and 975 sexual-assault cases, a grim picture in light of the country’s Women’s Month celebrations.
If one breaks down the national numbers, approximately 974cases of rape and sexual assault are closed without result every month
The Survivor’s Chapter is a multifaceted concept that offers a safe space or circle for trauma victims to share and heal through live, intimate conversations.
#YouareNeverForgotten