By Mpho Moloi
As South Africa observes Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) from 3 November to 3 December 2024, Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has brought attention to the heightened prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) against women living with disabilities.
This focus aligns with the recent findings of the first South African National Gender-Based Violence Prevalence Study, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).
Key Findings of the HSRC Study
The HSRC’s comprehensive study provides a baseline survey on victimisation and perpetration of GBV across the nation. Notably, the research reveals that 7.7% of South African women aged 18 and older have a disability. Among these women, the incidence of lifetime physical violence by a partner is significantly higher at 29.3%, compared to 21.7% among women without disabilities. Additionally, 31.2% of women with disabilities have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, 31.9% have faced emotional abuse, 16.3% have encountered economic abuse, and a staggering 60% have been subjected to controlling behaviours by a partner in their lifetime.
The study also highlights that the prevalence of sexual violence from a partner is twice as high for ever-partnered women living with a disability (14.6%) compared to those without a disability (7.2%). These statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect and support this vulnerable demographic.
Minister Chikunga’s Response
Reacting to these alarming figures, Minister Chikunga expressed deep concern over the heinous crimes committed against women who may be unable to hear, see, or speak, noting that “for these women, justice is almost always denied.” She emphasised the necessity for government, professionals, and service providers to play a crucial role in identifying women affected by GBV and ensuring that women with disabilities are included in prevention plans.
Strategic Actions and Recommendations
In light of the study’s findings, the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities is preparing for a five-year strategic planning session. The department plans to invite the HSRC research team to present their findings and incorporate their recommendations into the strategic plan. Minister Chikunga stressed the importance of community intelligence, urging researchers, scholars, advocates, and activists to delve deeper into the complexities of GBV at the community and street levels to ensure justice is served.
One of the immediate actions proposed is to challenge and repurpose values and practices across educational, religious, cultural, sporting, and creative environments to combat patriarchal chauvinism. Minister Chikunga highlighted the need to influence school curricula to nurture youth who reject patriarchal norms and the violence they perpetuate.
Furthermore, the department is committed to integrating the study’s findings into the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, adopted in 2020 as a society-wide programme to end gender-based violence and femicide. This integration involves recalibrating existing policies and programmes to align with the evidence presented in the study.
International Insights and Future Research
Minister Chikunga also referenced international research to inform South Africa’s approach to combating GBV. She cited a 2023 study by Marco Colagrossi and colleagues, which utilised high-frequency data from the Italian anti-violence helpline, police reports of domestic abuse, and a unique geospatial dataset on femicides. The study found that news coverage of a femicide triggers an increase in help-seeking behaviour, with higher general interest and news coverage correlating with greater increases in help-seeking. Minister Chikunga called for more research in this area and emphasised the importance of mobilising funding from both public and private sectors to ensure that interventions against GBVF are adequately resourced.
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