Resistance to change takes sting out of anti-GBV campaign

November 25-December 10 marks the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign. This year, from my experience, women have rejected and disapproved of this period more than most years. Because for women, it has not resulted in tangible change. For women, conditions are still the same, if they aren’t worse off. One cannot blame women for feeling this way because the objective indicators such as abuse, rape and femicide statistics correspond with their feeling. I think women are exhausted, and rightfully so.

On the eve of the launch of 16 Days of Activism, the ANC in Mpumalanga reinstated an ANC official who has been charged with the rape of his eight-year-old twin daughters, after being released on bail. This occurred in the same period our country entered a period of mourning and the SA flag was hung at half-mast in remembrance of those who died as a result of gender-based violence and the coronavirus. If this is anything to go by, women are indeed supposed to be fed up.

While the ANC rescinded the decision to reinstate this rape-accused member, it is disheartening, to say the least, that the decision was taken to begin with. When you look at instances such as this, which is just one case amongst many, we cannot blame women for giving the middle finger to 16 Days of Activism.

Though not surprising, it is scary to think that the ANC thought there is nothing incorrect with the decision it took. That they thought – in the context of our country, which they are well aware of – that it was okay to reinstate this man. It took a public outcry for the decision to be backtracked, meaning they saw nothing wrong. Had their decision remained outside of the public domain, they would have continued with the reinstatement of a man accused of raping his eight-year-old twin daughters.

The ANC in Mpumalanga argued that while members facing criminal charges are asked to step aside from party activity, it was upon the national executive to devise guidelines and, until it did so, the PEC would allow the rape accused to participate in party activities until the matter was finalised. It is disheartening that knowing what they know, they thought allegations of such a serious nature could be treated in such a nonchalant manner. This particular case got to us and we were able to speak about it.

One can imagine the number of men who have been reinstated into positions, boardrooms and have their lives unaffected, despite their behaviour having caused insurmountable changes to the lives of those they perpetrated these crimes against. Victims don’t get to have off days from the trauma that comes from the behaviour of the perpetrator. They do not have the option of their lives ever continuing normally. The scary truth is that there are many who are like the Mpumalanga PEC. Who cradle and coddle perpetrators of gender-based violence. They are in our boardrooms, churches and institutions. They hold key decision-making powers in different sectors.

The theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign is “Women’s Economic Justice for a Non-Violent and Non-Sexist South Africa”.

This theme recognises the importance of women’s economic empowerment as being critical to the eradication of GBV and femicide. This comes at a time where the world economy is reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic and its negative ramifications, which heavily fall on women. Economic empowerment helps reduce factors of vulnerability for women and children. This is not to say economic empowerment is the sole solution that will drive out GBV because there is also a behavioural aspect from men, that no-one, other than men, can do something about.

However, there is something to be said about economic empowerment because GBV is perpetuated, reinforced and intersects with inequality. Economic empowerment, for example, would usher in agency and financial independence. But the truth is, we need systematic change and we need men to change. Economic empowerment as a tool, in an society that is deeply patriarchal, will be inadequate. Because, like today, women will enter spaces but be unable to break through the glass ceiling because there is a lack of fundamental change systematically.

A SowetanLive Article

By: Mbuyiselo Botha - Commissioner: SA Commission for Gender Equality

StopGBVapp Ambassador