GENDER BASED VIOLENCE BECOMES UNSEEN ENEMY IN SOUTH AFRICA

MDLAKA SINENTLAHLA

It has become a norm as South Africans to hear that a woman has been brutally killed by her romantic partner. Their partners kill them as if they're slaughtering cows. There are countless causes of GBV (gender based violence) such as poverty, irresponsible drinking of alcohol, childhood scars and wounds, coupled with anger management issues or conflict.

 The multi-million dollar question is what are we as a country doing to prevent this scourge of GBV? Many women are victims of this abuse, they get fed up and report it to the police. They grant them a restraining order. If a person is determined to abuse you, no restraining order can stop them. Well, a restraining order is not enough because women die under its protection. While others take it upon themselves to keep quiet because the hand that abuses them is the hand that feeds them, and some fear for their lives because it has also become a norm in our country that when a woman walks away from a relationship the ex partner stalks and kills her.

The fact people started a #blacklivesmatter protest for the death of George Floyd who was killed by American police but kept quiet about the ruthless killing of pregnant Tshegofatso Pule proves it all that women in SA are taken for a ride, clearly their lives do not matter.

What is expected of women to do in order for the government to take action towards gender based violence? Is it really necessary for the South African women to live like this? Is this the life that one can live, sleeping with one eye open? The life of fear? Women have cried and tears have dried up.  Enough is enough! The South African government must take it upon themselves to protect the lives of South African women. Its high-time the SA government took the responsibility to amend the Constitution so that people who deserve to be sentenced to life in jail can be prosecuted.