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Murder of women and children: The murder of women increased by 7.9% during the period, with nearly 1000 women being killed, and attempted murder increased by 21.5%, with 1485 cases reported. On the other hand, the murder of children decreased by almost 1/5, from 306 incidents in Jan-Mar 2022 to 245 in the review period. However, the attempted murder of children increased by almost 9%, from 331 to 360 incidents year on year. Locations of rape: Of the 7769 reported rapes, approximately two-thirds occurred in locations familiar to the victim, such as their own homes or the perpetrator's homes. Schools remain unsafe institutions, with 67 reported rapes occurring on school premises during the period, 43 of which were committed by fellow learners. Aggravating factors: Alcohol was identified as an aggravating factor in 17% (1237 cases) of reported rape cases. While these statistics are significant, we must consider the issue of under-reporting when analysing the data. The under-reporting of rape and sexual assault remains a collective blind spot, diluting the apparent severity of the issue. Unlike murder and attempted murder, which are more likely to be reported by the victim's family due to the severity of the crimes, rape and sexual assault often occur in private and rely on the victim's willingness to report. This discrepancy hinders our ability to fully understand the extent of the problem. The implications of under-reporting include limitations in evidence-based responses, difficulty in assessing the effectiveness of interventions, and the continued freedom of perpetrators who accumulate multiple victims due to unreported cases. To address this, we must maintain aggressive GBVF awareness campaigns, ensuring that victims are aware of reporting channels and expand these channels as much as possible. Additionally, we must pressure law enforcement to remove barriers to reporting GBV.
elcome to the third edition of Collective Action Magazine, where we highlight the approaches, successes, and lessons learned in the course of taking action to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa and worldwide. As we continue our work, it's important to assess our successes and failures in ending GBVF. One way to gauge the problem and our progress is by evaluating the quarterly crime statistics published by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It is crucial for those working in this field to take care of themselves and prevent burnout. The burnout rate in the social justice sector is as high as 80% within 5 years, and we cannot afford to lose dedicated individuals. Rest, seek support, and remember that this is a long-term effort. In conclusion, I extend my love and blessings to all those committed to this work. Your efforts will have a lasting impact. Let's continue working with communities and stakeholders to enable safe reporting, implement prevention programmes, and share successful strategies.
In this edition, we will focus on the statistics from the 4th Quarter SAPS report (Q4 2022/2023) and assess what they reveal about the state of GBVF in South Africa. Sexual Offences: The overall statistics show a 4.3% decrease in reported sexual offences during the period, with a total of 13,205 incidents. When examining the data in detail, we find the following trends: rape decreased by 2.8%, sexual assault decreased by 14.9%, attempted sexual offences increased by 21.2%, and contact sexual offences decreased by 30.5%. While there were 594 fewer reported sexual assaults compared to the previous year, the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo, and North West continued to experience an increase in reported sexual assaults.
CEO: Mental Wellness Initiative / Collective Action Magazine
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