Deputy Minister Tolashe is concerned with the thorn of gender-based violence and femicide.
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nokuzola Tolashe notes with concern the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) that is undermining the gains of democracy.
The Scourge of GBVF continues to plague the country despite pockets of progress made in driving the national response to end Gender Based violence.
“As a widespread occurrence, GBV continues to spread its ugly legs and it is deeply rooted in communal structures such as homes, churches and workplaces”, said Deputy Minister Tolashe.
Government and civil society continue to forge a collaborative approach to ensure the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) already made a submission requesting that GBVF be dealt with as a Pandemic, with the President during the State of Nation Address committing to the call.
“Since the launch of the National Femicide Prevalence Survey in March 2022, The Department has reaffirmed its willingness to confront GBVF with unwavering determination through a multi-stakeholder and intergovernmental approach with the ultimate goal of ending gender-based violence”. said the Deputy Minister Tolashe.
The World Bank states that GBVF or violence against women, youth and persons with disabilities is a global pandemic that affects one in three women in their lifetime. Gender- based violence is not only devastating for the survivors of violence and their families but also has significant social and economic costs to the country’s GDP.
The KPMG report on the economic cost of GBVF indicates that Gender-based violence costs South Africa between R28. 4 billion and R42. 4 billion per year – or between 0.9% and 1.3% of GDP annually. As a result, individuals and families continue to bear the greatest proportion of costs due to GBVF.
Gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide are structural issues and are fuelled by inequalities that cut across race, class, gender, sexuality and age. Women in third-world countries are more likely to experience gender-based oppression perpetuated and motivated by patriarchal customs. When poverty and lack of jobs or economic empowerment opportunities are present, GBVF is likely to be exacerbated.
As part of the two-year goal set forth by the GBVF Presidential Summit in 2022 to implement the National Strategic Plan, there's a proposal to establish a local economy centred on women cooperatives, supported by local institutions. This initiative can bolster government endeavours to combat gender-based violence and femicide, empowering women and persons with disabilities to break free from economic dependency.
Media enquiries:
Cassius Selala
Cell: 060 534 0672
E-mail: Cassius.Selala@dwypd.gov.za
