Activists in South Africa call for funding for anti-violence measures — TimesLIVE
In South Africa, experts and human rights advocates, following an address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the murders of women, called on the authorities to move from promises to measurable action against gender-based violence. They called for funding, implementation timelines and mechanisms for public accountability to be defined, TimesLIVE reports.
Women for Change founder Sabrina Walter welcomed the president's acknowledgement that previous government actions had been insufficient, but stressed that speeches alone were not enough to protect women. She also questioned whether measures such as cutting grass and repairing street lighting could protect women experiencing violence in their own homes.
Data and investigations
Walter called for survivors to be able to report domestic violence without being treated dismissively or having their complaints refused. She also said there was a need to properly assess risks associated with accused persons who may pose an increased threat.
The activist raised the issue of the DNA backlog and called on the government to publish current detailed statistics on crimes against women and children. In her view, quarterly reports should include data on arrests, prosecutions, convictions, forensic examination timelines and the number of cases that had progressed after prolonged stagnation.
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Sonke Gender Justice stated that investigating crimes, processing forensic evidence and improving unsafe public spaces were necessary but did not constitute a comprehensive strategy for preventing violence. The organisation warned that the authorities' response was largely focused on actions taken only after violence had already occurred.
Resources and implementation oversight
Gender-based violence expert Cameron Kasambala said the authorities were considering a number of measures, including strengthening police work and reviewing old cases. At the same time, she questioned how the government would assess the effectiveness of each initiative and track progress.
Institute for Security Studies consultant Willem Els believes that reviewing old cases could produce results thanks to more modern forensic technologies. He stressed that the number of arrests should not be the sole indicator of police effectiveness, as investigators need the capacity to build compelling cases for court.
Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed said women and communities continued to distrust the police. She called for adequate funding, investigator training, stronger forensic capabilities and the elimination of the DNA backlog. Public finance expert Matshidiso Lentsoasa added that survivor support programmes, including shelters, suffered from a lack of funding, while the upcoming medium-term budget would test the authorities' willingness to finance the announced measures.
