State must find same will to fight GBV as Covid-19: by Mbuyiselo Botha

South Africans have been calling on police minister Bheki Cele to demonstrate the same enthusiasm and vigour he has shown enforcing and monitoring lockdown regulations towards the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

The minister and various high-ranking officials have been spotted, with great enthusiasm, cracking down on businesses and individuals flouting lockdown compliance guidelines set out in the disaster management regulations.

I cannot blame South Africans for feeling this way. In my lifetime, there have been very few instances of such a well-orchestrated, concerted and all-hands-on deck approach to a crisis. One thing for sure, when I have seen such effort, it was not to do with responding to issues around GBV.

This is not to say the minister and the various parties involved should not perform their Covid-19 related duties. But, we need to see the same enthusiasm or more directed towards efforts that fight GBV, and related crimes too.

A current, growing challenge that has consumed SA citizens is human trafficking and the possibility that there is a syndicate operating in SA. The last we heard of the minister speaking on this issue was when he said he is not sure whether there is an increasing prevalence in human trafficking or an increase in media coverage and thus human trafficking receiving greater publicity, hence the alarmed reaction by citizens.

This may be correct; however, I think when citizens are panicked, it is important our worries are taken seriously. The minister is yet to present us with the facts associated with human trafficking; what are the numbers? Is there a dedicated team to deal with it? Have the police followed up on the addresses citizens have cited as possible locations where drug and human trafficking rings are housed?

Many addresses have been floating all over social media, have the police acted on these? And if they have indeed acted, we need to see them publicising these acts as much as they publicise their acts against entertainment places that flout lockdown regulations.

One may say Covid-19 is a priority right now, so its related issues must receive greater attention. It does not have to be this way. First and foremost, we are high functioning individuals that can focus on more than one issue at a time. Second, state organs are built and meant for the purposes of dealing with various issues at a time. It is their mandate to respond to multiple crises at once, they are capacitated for us.

What has been a shock to many South Africans is that our state organs do indeed have the capacity to perform effectively and meet expectations. For many, it is bewildering to know that for years our country has battled high rates of GBV but we have never witnessed a response equal to the Covid-19 pandemic

And GBV deserves equal, if not more, attention.

This is not by any means a comparison of disasters, it is a comparison of responses. What implementing lockdown regulations has shown us is that there is no lack in capacity or resources, there is a lack of will.

For many South Africans it is as if this is an easy way out for our officials where they can publicly be seen to be productively doing their job at an impressive standard, a standard that should be a normal one. GBV is complex, requires painstaking hours and commitment. Conquering it will not come as “easy” as confiscating alcohol, shutting down establishments, fining and revoking licences. It will not be a easy win.

Recently, Cele announced that 139 police officers have GBV charges hanging over their heads, in just 13 police stations. The cases comprise rape, statutory rape, murder, domestic violence, attempted murder, malicious damage to property and intimidation, to name some.

One would think statistics such as these would alert officials on the gravity of GBV, especially considering that it is these same police officers who women and children are expected to narrate their trauma to.

The protectors we rely on are the same abusers. As a country often referred to as the rape capital of the world and a country that borders on being a war zone because of the crime and murder rates, we need to see a stronger message being sent, and stronger efforts being done.

We need to see a GBV response that is as intense and unforgiving. The context in which we exist requires this of the minister and his officials. South Africans are not unreasonable being overly critical of the disproportionate responses to two deadly pandemics.

Article from: Sowetan LIVE - Gender Imbizo

By: Mbuyiselo Botha

Commissioner: Commission for Gender Equality

StopGBVapp Ambassador