Nine women in South Africa have been murdered since July. We are being told to be vigilant – but where are the warnings to men?
The country has one of the highest femicide rates in the world, and women are yet again being asked to remove themselves from public life to counter it
TL;DR
- Women are already highly vigilant due to widespread safety concerns, employing numerous informal safety protocols.
- Nine women have been found dead in the Ekurhuleni district since July, with some showing signs of violence.
- The advice for women to "remain vigilant" is seen as insufficient and shifts responsibility away from preventing male violence.
- The article questions the lack of public warnings, education, and accountability directed at men regarding gender-based violence.
- South Africa's femicide rate is nearly six times the global rate, yet it is often treated as a recurring statistic rather than a national crisis.
- Declaring gender-based violence a national crisis needs to be followed by concrete actions, increased resources, and accountability for institutions.
- Prevention strategies must include sustained education on consent, healthy relationships, and positive masculinity, starting early.
- Men are urged to confront misogyny within their own social circles and challenge harmful attitudes.
- The ultimate responsibility of the state is to prevent violence, not just teach women how to survive it.
- Accountability and a shift in focus towards perpetrators are crucial for creating a country where women can live without fear.