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2008 SERIES

EPISODE 12 - Gender-based violence

The TeamAdolescents & ARVsHerpes & HIVCelebrities & HIVSero-disordant coupleRelationships & sex Breast, bottle or cup?VCTHate crimesMDR & XDR TBCircumcisionGender violenceInfants on ARVsSexual negotiationsSocial grantsCervical cancerSubstance abusePMTCTFarm workers & HIVPEPTeen pregnancyDisclosureNSPStigma and predjudiceWater and sanitationHuman rights

 

 

Nozuko Mbhebhe crying

There are alarming rates of domestic abuse in South Africa. 1 in 6 women have been abused verbally, physically or sexually and usually the victims are afraid to speak out.  This means that the culprits are seldom punished. Gender violence is under the spotlight on this week's episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! as our support group discusses how our communities can respond to the epidemic of gender violence - one of the key drivers of the HIV epidemic.  Rape is the most serious manifestations of gender violence. Joining our support group to discuss these issues is Noluthando Ntlokwana from the Women's Legal Centre. Our first story comes from Mgweza near Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.

We meet Nomthandazo who was raped by someone close to her family when she was thirteen. Nomthandazo thinks she may have been "sold" by her grandmother, which led to the rape. She was raped for a second time some years later and this led to her being infected with HIV.  Her rapist is known to her and was released on a mere R500 bail. The psychological trauma and the lack of justice is obvious from Nomthandazo's story.

Read our interview with Nomthandazo here.

The story has a huge impact on our Support Group which discusses the need for the courts to extend more protection to rape survivors.

Our next story deals with domestic gender violence. We meet a woman who was in an abusive relationship for 37 years.  We learn how financial dependency and concern for their children often lead to woman staying in these sorts of relationships. The Domestic Violence Act is a new piece of legislation (introduced in 1998) and needs to be more widely used by women to defend themselves.

Read about Nozuko's 37 years of suffering.

Lastly we meet Nwabisa , the woman who was at the centre of the now infamous Noord Street Taxi Rank assault by a group of taxi drivers because she was wearing a mini skirt. Her story shows how solidarity and community mobilisation is the best and most effective way of responding to gender violence.

Download the transcript of our interview with Nwabisa here.

The unifying theme of the show is that no one has the right to abuse anyone whether in a relationship or not. Our stories and discussion reveal that a key part of the response to gender violence is community mobilisation to put pressure on the police and judiciary for the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators. This sends a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable and perpetrators must not be allowed to get away with it.

IT'S A FACT

Nomathandazo

Taxi driver, Noord Street Taxi Rank

Nwabisa Ngcukana

 Over 50 000 rapes are reported to the South African Police Services each year.
About half of these rape cases are of children younger than 18 years.
As few as 1 in 9 rapes are reported.
In nearly 4 out of 5 cases, the rapist is known to the victim.
In 3 out of 5 cases of child rape, the mother is aware of the rape but ignores it for financial and emotional reasons.
Rape is a risk factor for HIV infection. A study involving 687 rape survivors in a Johannesburg clinic shows that there was a 30% higher chance of HIV transmission than during normal and consensual sex.
Forced vaginal or anal penetration is more likely to cause cuts and abrasions, facilitating entry of the virus into the bloodstream. Adolescent girls are particularly susceptible to HIV infection as vaginal membranes have not developed cellular density to provide a barrier that comes with sexual maturity.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is available for rape survivors testing negative for HIV. PEP is available at all primary health care clinics, and should be administered within a maximum of 72 hours.
The new Sexual Offences Act broadens the definition of rape to include forced anal and oral sex, irrespective of the gender of the victim or perpetrator.
The Act recognises the rape of males, which was previously classified as indecent assault.  It also widens the definition of rape to include objects such as bottles, sticks, etc.