South Africa is dealing with a gender-based violence and femicide problem, and the numbers don’t lie. According to the Human Sciences Research Council, one in three South African women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. In contrast, one in four has experienced emotional abuse, and more than half have experienced controlling behaviour.
The anti-femicide demonstration in Cape Town, South Africa, following the death of Uyinene Mrwetyana outside the Houses of Parliament whilst President Cyril Ramaphosa gives a speech. Image credit:
Discott,
CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the past decade, South Africa has intensified its policy and societal response to GBVF through initiatives and programmes — including the work of civil society, the establishment of the first dedicated rape management centres called Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) and, more recently, the National Strategic Plan on GBVF — that have undoubtedly saved countless lives.
The first Thuthuzela Care Centres were developed over two decades ago, following research into the experiences of sexual assault survivors and the challenges they faced when navigating the healthcare and criminal justice systems.
This model was designed as a one-stop centre, bringing together health services, police, social development, and justice services so survivors could access coordinated support rather than navigating these systems separately.
The centres were established through partnerships involving government and external funders and are highlighted as a strong example of multi-sector collaboration, including joint public–private and donor investments in addressing GBV.
This collaboration is essential and effective, but one question remains: If we have improved our criminal justice response, why are we still seeing such high levels of violence?
One key reason is that we have invested significantly in reactive systems and far less in preventing violence from happening in the first place.
The progress that government, donors, business and civil society have made in our response is laudable but has not shifted the societal structures that underpin GBVF.
What is needed now is a similar, collaborative model that tackles prevention at a societal level.
Prevention must address the broader social conditions and mindsets that contribute to GBVF, rather than focusing only on incidents after they occur.
Everybody’s business
Employing millions of people means that businesses have the capacity to influence families, workplaces and communities.
There is immense potential to use this influence and existing programmes to drive the shift in cultural and social norms.
This is difficult work, but it is not impossible.
This can include employee wellbeing initiatives such as mental health support for women, access to GBVF hotlines, engaging men on healthy relationships, encouraging positive, engaged fatherhood and, in so doing, using the corporate environment to change how children and families are otherwise exposed to violence.
If we hope to break intergenerational cycles of violence, children need positive home environments.
Importantly, this should also include a commitment to providing women with access to economic opportunities.
Making an impact
Tackling GBVF through CSI means deliberately investing in well-established social impact programmes that make a difference.
This does not always mean beginning new programmes or deploying additional funding.
There is significant opportunity to build prevention into existing investments and initiatives.
This might mean extending programmes targeting sectors like education, youth development or healthcare to dismantle violence more broadly by carefully addressing GBV within these existing programmes.
Investing in more practical initiatives can also make a meaningful difference.
This could take the form of improving lighting in high-risk areas, providing transport for women travelling early in the morning or late at night, and supporting community patrols or programmes that help create safer environments.
GBVF is a complex issue, and more of our clients are looking to shift from investing in response to investing in prevention.
At Tshikululu, we are exploring evidence-based approaches proven to create meaningful, lasting change.
One such programme combines social behaviour change and economic empowerment.
Stepping Stones is an evidence-based, participatory training programme designed to prevent HIV and reduce GBVF by dismantling social norms and power dynamics and improving communication.
It addresses gender, sexuality, violence and relationship skills, recognising that entrenched behaviours are often rooted in familial and community relationships.
The programme brings couples together to learn healthy communication, ultimately building healthier relationships and reducing violence.
Women who participate also receive practical skills to identify and pursue income-generating opportunities to improve their socio-economic circumstances.
The programme is a strong example of a holistic approach to prevention and its long-term benefits.
It reduces violence in families and communities and supports meaningful economic participation for women, leading to a stronger economy.
Societal change
This approach will not deliver results overnight.
Changing behaviours, relationships and social norms takes years, but its impact can be far-reaching and generational.
This requires looking beyond traditional measures of success.
Knowing how much was invested or how many people participated in a programme matters.
However, the true measure of success is whether attitudes, behaviours, and social norms are changing.
A Theory of Change approach helps funders and implementation partners connect programme activities to these longer-term outcomes.
It creates a framework for learning what works, adapting where necessary and making better-informed decisions about implementation at scale.
If we are serious about changing South Africa’s GBVF crisis, we must invest in supporting survivors today and prevention with equal urgency.
We also need to treat GBVF prevention as equally important.
We all need to act now.
Prevention requires a whole-of-society approach, and reaching every corner of South Africa will take government, civil society and business working together.
Let’s invest together in a violence-free South Africa.
