The Silent Epidemic: Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

Gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa continues to cast a long, dark shadow over the country’s social fabric. Recent studies show that over 1.5 million women were victims of physical and/or sexual violence in the past year alone.  This pervasive crisis impacts women, children and men, but women and girls remain disproportionately victimised.

Roots of the Problem

Deep-seated patriarchal attitudes and entrenched social norms help drive GBV in South Africa.  As the Amnesty International South Africa emphasised:

 “Toxic social norms, attitudes and beliefs continue to be driving factors of GBV.” 

Further, structural inequality and poverty compound the risk. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) reports that women with disabilities suffer higher lifetime rates of abuse: 29.3 % of ever-partnered women with disabilities experienced physical abuse compared with 21.7 % without disabilities; 14.6 % experienced sexual violence versus 7.2 % of non-disabled counterparts. 

The justice system is also failing survivors. According to South African Police Service (SAPS) data, the conviction rate for reported rape in some cases stands at just 8.6%.  Delays in forensic processing, mis-managed dockets and distrust in law-enforcement discourage reporting and enable impunity. 

Impact on Society

The consequences of GBV go far beyond the individual. Survivors face profound physical, psychological and emotional trauma. This undermines families and communities, and erodes social cohesion. On the economic front, the cost is immense: a 2018 report estimated the financial burden of GBV in South Africa at between R28.4 billion and R42.4 billion annually, equivalent to 0.9 – 1.3 % of GDP. 

Recent statistics reveal the severity of the situation: in the first quarter of 2024–25, SAPS data show a 7.9 % increase in women murdered year-on-year and over 10 600 rapes reported.  The crisis is worsening in many provinces: for example, a study found that over a four-year period the province of Limpopo had the highest call-rate to GBV hotlines at 104 calls per 100 000 people. 

Pathways to Change

Addressing GBV requires a multi-layered response. Education and awareness-raising are essential: schools, media and community forums must promote gender equality and respectful relationships. Simultaneously, the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened. Amnesty International has called for mandatory training of police, detectives and first-responders to make the criminal justice system “effective, efficient and sensitive.” 

Support services for survivors must also be expanded — this includes safe housing, counselling, legal aid and economic empowerment. Research indicates that economic empowerment of women and young people can reduce GBV risk significantly. 

Importantly, men and boys must be engaged as part of the solution. Changing harmful norms around masculinity, dominance and control is vital in preventing violence before it occurs. Data and research must back all these efforts: better data collection aids in allocating resources, measuring impact and identifying hotspots. The HSRC’s first national GBV prevalence study was a step in that direction. 

A Call to Action

This silent epidemic demands a unified, strategic response. Government, civil society, private sector and communities must collaborate to:

Re-prioritise implementation of existing policies and ensure consistent funding for support services.

Promote gender-transformative education and challenge entrenched patriarchal values.

Strengthen law-enforcement, prosecution and survivor-centred justice.

Expand economic empowerment programmes for women as part of GBV prevention.

Improve data-systems to track prevalence, responses and outcomes.

Gender-based violence is not just a crime issue,it is a public-health, human-rights and socio-economic issue. Reducing it means building a safer, more equitable South Africa. By committing to challenging ingrained attitudes, supporting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable, we can begin to turn the tide. It’s time South Africa not only speaks of ending GBV, but acts to end it. By Bosa Ledwala, an independent analyst .