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Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike, has called for urgent action to address the power imbalances between men and women that perpetuate violence against women in South Africa.
Speaking in response to the first South African National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevalence Study, Letsike emphasised the need for a societal shift in attitudes.
Power and Entitlement
“Men have been conditioned to feel entitled to women’s time, labour, and bodies. There is no competition between men and women, but men must understand they do not have the right over women’s bodies,” Letsike stated.
She stressed that respect and equality are essential in partnerships, adding that nothing justifies the violation of women, which is considered a criminal act in South Africa.
Shocking Findings on Violence
The baseline study, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), revealed that over 7.3 million women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
“This statistic is a lifeline for South Africa, not just data,” Letsike said. “We must not only raise awareness but also foster prevention, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Urgent Need for Action
Letsike urged all South Africans to do their part by reporting instances of violence and holding perpetrators accountable.
“We cannot fail the women of this country—not 30 years into our democracy. We must enhance and strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms while integrating GBV interventions into broader social policies,” she explained.
She also highlighted the links between GBV, economic inequality, education gaps, and the HIV epidemic, underscoring the complexity of the issue.
Science for Change
Letsike called for science to play a greater role in addressing societal challenges. “We need to ensure that science is for the people and does not leave communities behind. Translating data into meaningful actions for communities is vital,” she said.
Turning Data Into Action
The Deputy Minister reiterated the importance of using the findings to implement survivor-centred solutions and dedicated resources to tackle GBV effectively.
“We must commit to translating data into action by developing responsive interventions and dedicating resources that match the scale of the problem,” Letsike concluded.
This study and the Deputy Minister’s remarks reinforce the need for collective responsibility to address violence against women and build a safer, more equitable society.
