The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has released findings from the first South African National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Study of 2022, revealing alarming statistics about the prevalence of GBV among women aged 18 and older. Presented to Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga on 12 November, the study highlights the urgent need for action in addressing South Africa’s GBV crisis.

Key Findings

• Combined physical and sexual violence: 35.5% of women (7.84 million) have experienced such violence in their lifetime.
• Physical violence: 33.1% of women (7.31 million) have been victims of physical violence.
• Sexual violence: 9.8% (2.15 million women) have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
• In the 12 months prior to the study, 6.1% (1.3 million women) experienced physical violence, while 2.0% experienced sexual violence.

Inter-Partner Violence (IPV)

• Recent IPV: Physical violence stands at 5.2% and sexual violence at 2.5%.
• Lifetime IPV: Physical violence affects 22.4% of women, while sexual violence impacts 7.9%.

Controlling Behaviour and Child Abuse

• Controlling behaviour: 57.6% of women reported experiencing this, with 77.2% of men admitting to perpetrating it over their lifetime.
• Child abuse: 58% of women experienced physical abuse during childhood, with lower reported rates for sexual abuse.

Challenges and Implications

Dr. Nompumelelo Zungu, HSRC Deputy Executive Director, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this population-level study. However, she noted that policy implementation, funding, and systemic issues continue to hinder progress in combating GBV.

Zungu highlighted underreporting as a significant challenge, particularly in cases of child sexual abuse, due to differences in how data for women and men were collected.

A Call to Action

The study offers a detailed roadmap for policymakers, researchers, and activists to tackle the GBV epidemic effectively. It underscores the urgent need for increased funding, efficient implementation of policies, and sustained public awareness campaigns to address the crisis and protect vulnerable populations.

The HSRC’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of GBV and the critical importance of collective action to combat it.