EDITORIAL | Social attitudes have to change if the GBV war is to be won

Gender-based violence (GBV) has become a familiar prop for politicians facing a public outcry over this social disease, brought back into the spotlight recently with the discovery of the bodies of 11 murdered women in Ekurhuleni.

Politicians know the drill by now: express outrage and sympathy for the families, vow to track down and deal harshly with the perpetrators, and conclude by promising a raft of changes to prevent a repeat. And then silence, as things go back to normal.

Too often, little or nothing emerges from the noble sentiments, with grand promises falling by the wayside as the indignation subsides. Outrage gives way to apathy and plans gather dust — until the next uproar, when the pattern repeats itself.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation this week followed this well-worn pattern, vowing impressive measures to tackle the scourge. New deadlines have been set and sweeping promises made, or warmed up from the last occasion.

A national case recovery operation has been ordered into unresolved murders, attempted murders and serious sexual offences involving women and children. The minister of police, the minister of justice, the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority have been given 60 days to compile an inventory of cases and 90 days to devise a plan to deal with priority cases. Forensic backlogs are to be tackled within 60 days, with urgent cases to be ring-fenced.

At local level, municipalities are to audit unsafe and dangerous places within their areas, identifying “broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and facilities, poorly secured parks and other conditions that place women at risk”. In other words, all things that have been neglected for the better part of three decades.

The notion that men have an inherent right to lord it over women, often under the guise of protection, has no place in a modern society committed to gender equality and the rule of law

Ramaphosa also ordered a crackdown on the abuse of liquor and enforcement of bylaws relating to the sale and consumption of alcohol. A mountain of undertakings, most of them describing the normal work of government, which will remain mere words.

To his credit, Ramaphosa acknowledged that policing and the law alone are not sufficient to make a dent in the horrific statistics. A change in cultural attitudes is needed to rid society of harmful social practices that encourage a culture of violence against women and view them as lesser beings whose destiny it is to be dominated by men. All these measures are to be welcomed and encouraged.

But as Ramaphosa himself pointed out, we are walking a well-worn path here. He mentioned that he had made a similar appeal to the men of South Africa seven years ago, without making much impact. And last year, when he declared GBV a national disaster, more promises were made.

At the battlefront in the so-called war against GBV, NGOs have to cope with dwindling resources, a male-dominated police force whose members are often eager to blame the woman, and a lack of government assistance and commitment to performing their duties.

Ramaphosa is correct in stating that the government alone cannot solve the problem, especially a government that spends tens of millions more safeguarding its own members than it does in the fight against GBV.

Social attitudes have to change, which is a task to be taken up in families, churches and schools. The notion that men have an inherent right to lord it over women, often under the guise of protection, has no place in a modern society committed to gender equality and the rule of law.