There is strength in numbers
Other concerning statistics are shown on the South African Depression and Anxiety Group website and the World Happiness Index (2022), where South Africa is placed at 101, painting an even more grim picture of the probable extent and scope of GBV’s impact on all stakeholders. The call for a strategic shift in thinking and action is clearer than ever. In 2020, the Department of Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg partnered with the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) and their GBVF #ITSNOTOK movement to engage with two key stakeholder groups, private sector leaders and employees, who had not previously been included in GBV research. Conversations were held with CEOs and directors of 73 private sector organisations in South Africa to determine, 1) the level of awareness of GBV in South Africa; 2) gather their views on where the topic of GBV should be placed within the business framework; 3) what employees expect their employers to do about GBV as it also affects employees; and 4)what strategies they would put into place to address GBV in line with the NSP. A second stream in this research project targeted employees, and conducted a survey across sectors in South Africa to assess: the level of awareness of GBV, its prevalence in its various forms, their opinion about the drivers of GBV and recommendations on how GBV should be addressed by the private sector. Findings of this study will be released on 11 August 2022 and will include an update on the cost of GBV to South Africa by leading health economist Prof Koustuv Dalal from Mid-Sweden University.
In a summary, we are all stakeholders in the issue of GBV globally. In spite of all the work that has been done, intimate partner violence, child rape and domestic violence are prevalent among all socio-economic groups in South Africa and most cases are never reported to police. Some of the challenges that inhibit the work of ending GBV are systematic. There are numerous reports on the inefficiency of the South African Police Service, irregularities and ineptitude at South African courts resulting in shockingly low conviction rates and insufficient support services available to victims. The need for education of both perpetrators and victims and for support structures at all levels cannot be ignored. Against this background, the importance of communication and collaboration cannot be overemphasized.
To date, most GBV research has been conducted from a public health perspective and is largely informed by the work done by various NGOs. While findings and data on GBV is available on multiple websites the information that reaches the public in South Africa is typically contained in news reports on femicide, child rape and intimate partner violence. To be more effective, dissemination of information such as emergency call lines/hotlines, support services for both victims and perpetrators need be accessible on far more platforms. If we are to break the generational cycle of abuse, education on topics such as online GBV, as published by Gender Links and the University of Pretoria in their report titled Understanding Online Gender- based Violence in Southern Africa (2022), needs to start as early as primary school.
“Let us join forces and collaborate and apply all GBV work and research towards finding solutions and funding that will enable us to a change in South Africa. We can do this together!” Prof C Davis
Corné Davis (D Litt et Phil) Associate Professor of Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg
Collective Action Magazine | 17
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