South Africa's Shame: How government is failing young women
With over 10,600 reported rapes in just one quarter, South Africa faces a crisis that demands urgent government action.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The fourth quarter crime statistics for 2024/25 paint a sobering picture.
More than 10,600 cases of rape; 1,872 cases of sexual assault; 656 attempted sexual offences; 236 contact sexual offences. This is one quarter, from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025.
Extrapolate that over four quarters and you have well over 42,000 cases of rape in a year. That's 115 rapes a day. And those are just the reported cases.
Some believe the actual number may be at least four times as high.
As a woman, you are four times more likely to be assaulted in your own home.
It's estimated around 90% of the victims of reported rape cases are women.
Following the news coverage of the murders of young women on IOL, you'll recognise that nowhere is safe for women. You get murdered going on a date. You get murdered using ride-sharing. You get murdered going to the post office. You get murdered going to the bathroom at night. You get murdered going to school. You get murdered at varsity.
The poem Siphokazi Jonas penned in 2018, first published by The Cape Argus and IOL still rings true: We Are Dying Here.
And yet, year after year, we are subjected to a State of the Nation Address where our president promises to do more to end the scourge of GBV, to set up specialised task teams, to hold national dialogues, to urge the NPA and the rest of the justice system to get its act together to properly investigate and prosecute these matters, to Youth Day speeches where we are sold a dream...
We are tired.
We demand action.
No more empty promises.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Our quarterly crime statistics may show some green shoots: There were 809 fewer murders between January 2025 and March 2025 than there were in the corresponding period in 2024 — but that's still 5,727 murders a quarter too many.
Femicide accounts for about 1,500 of the country's total murders per annum — around four per day.
Women are five to eight times more likely to be murdered by their intimate partner, according to SAPS in 2024.
According to the World Health Organization, the femicide rate in South Africa is five times the global average.
Just this year alone: Olorato Mongale, 30; Likhona Fose, 14; Imaan Syms, 30... The list goes on.
This Youth Day we need to remember their names.
Remember their names when President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing us on June 16.
Think about the number of young women and girls who have been raped, murdered, or gone missing, like little Joshlin Smith.
Think about how this system, this society, this government has failed them.
As we honour the youth activists of the June 16, 1976 Uprising, remember that many of those who participated are now in government and leadership positions in this country, in positions where they can make a difference but choose not to.
Thousands of youth gave up their lives for the freedoms we now cherish.
What are we prepared to offer up to stem the tide of grave crimes committed against our young women?
* Lance Witten is the editor of IOL.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Mrs South Africa inspires Dalpark learners with powerful message
The reigning Mrs South Africa, Erin-Jane Miller, brought hope and inspiration to Dalpark Independent School in Benoni this week. Her visit, just after Youth Day, generated excitement among learners and teachers alike. Miller's heartfelt message struck a chord: 'You never know what battles others are fighting.' The event, organised by the 4Change Foundation, was more than just a school visit. It was an experience. Learners participated in interactive activities, lively skits, and candid conversations. The focus? The real challenges facing South African youth today. Bullying, gender-based violence, and the struggle to find one's identity were all on the agenda, according to her Instagram post. 'If there's one thing I hope the youth take away from this month, it's the importance of self-discovery,' Miller told the learners. 'You're still figuring out who you are. It's tough. But remember, when someone acts out, it's often a cry for help. Be gracious. Everyone is facing their struggles.' Miller's words resonated deeply. Many students nodded in agreement, with some even sharing their own stories. The atmosphere was open and supportive. 'We need to address the root causes, not just put a plaster on the wound,' Miller said. 'It starts at home, with the values we teach. We must empower young girls and encourage men to step up as positive role models.' The 4Change Foundation, which Miller has supported for over 16 years, uses arts, mentorship, and leadership training to uplift communities. Their work has changed thousands of lives across South Africa. During the visit, Miller shared a moving story about twin brothers who went from being the school's troublemakers to becoming a teacher and a navy serviceman. 'You cannot deny the power of a changed life,' she said. 'All it takes is someone believing in you.' Miller's background gives her words weight. Growing up, she saw firsthand the dangers of gangsterism, drug abuse, and limited opportunities. 'I want to create different options for our youth,' she said. 'Too many young people fall into crime because they feel forgotten.' Her role as Mrs South Africa has opened new doors for the 4Change Foundation. 'The platform has given us access to key stakeholders and resources,' Miller explained. 'It's about reaching more people with a meaningful message. It's far more than a pageant.' Looking ahead, Miller is helping to launch 'Elevate', a new support programme for university students. The initiative, in partnership with a major tertiary institution, will offer an app for vulnerable students to access essentials like meals and resources. 'My goal is to use every resource I have to share these stories,' Miller said. 'Empowering young people changes communities. I encourage everyone to support youth programmes in any way they can.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Beyond Missiles and Sanctions: The Currency War Behind the Iran Assault
As tensions escalate in the Middle East following Israel's recent actions, the underlying struggle for the US dollar's dominance in global trade becomes increasingly apparent. Image: IOL / Ron AI By Masibongwe Sihlahla As the world grapples with renewed conflict in the Middle East after Israel's cowardly and unprovoked attack on Friday 13 June last week, the framing of recent escalations with Iran as a nuclear non-proliferation issue is be missing the big picture. Beneath the diplomatic soundbites and military maneuvers lies a quieter but more existential struggle: the fight to preserve the US dollar's supremacy in global trade and contain China. For decades, the dollar has enjoyed near-monopoly status as the global reserve currency, granting the United States what French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing once called an "exorbitant privilege". This privilege enables the US to borrow at lower interest rates, print money to finance deficits, and weaponise the global financial system through sanctions and trade controls. This economic order faces its greatest threat yet and that is the rise of BRICS and the mounting wave of dedollarisation. Iran and the Strategic Pivot Iran, a long-standing critic of US foreign policy, has deepened trade relations with BRICS members, particularly China and Russia. By pricing its oil in yuan and diversifying its currency reserves, Tehran is actively undercutting the petrodollar framework that has undergirded American economic influence since the 1970s. Iran has also a few weeks back received the first direct train from China which can deliver goods from Iran especially oil in 18 days instead of 36 days via ship going through the heavily patrolled (by America's Seventh Fleet) Strait of Malacca. It goes without saying that saving 50%-60% transport time also translates into huge cost savings. It facilitates faster delivery of Chinese goods to Iran and onward to Europe, boosting trade efficiency and regional connectivity — this is where the rub lies as it bypasses any attempt by the USA Seventh or Fifth fleet for that matter to intimidate China and thus BRICS. So an attack on Iran by Israel must not be seen in isolation but with a geopolitical eye on the attempt to contain China. The potential consequences are monumental. If oil can be bought and sold in non-dollar denominations, a cornerstone of global dollar demand weakens. With less demand for U.S. Treasury securities, Washington could face higher borrowing costs and diminished leverage in international institutions like the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Realignment Accelerates The war in Ukraine backfired on America and entrenched Russia further into the BRICS orbit, bolstered by China's growing clout and Brazil's pragmatic economic diplomacy. Western sanctions may have isolated Russia from some markets, but they also catalysed alternative systems—cross-border payment platforms, bilateral trade in national currencies, and talk of a BRICS common settlement unit. Iran's alignment with this axis isn't just a matter of political solidarity; it represents a pivot away from dollar-dependence. From India's use of rupees in oil trades to South Africa's backing of a multipolar financial system, the shift is gaining traction across the Global South. The last thing Biden did before exiting in December 2024 was to launch the Lobido Corridor as a countermeasure to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The Lobito Corridor is part of a broader Western-backed counter-BRICS initiative, including a $1.3 billion US-Angola infrastructure deal, to strengthen infrastructure and private investment in Africa, supported through programs like the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). The aim was to undermine Chinese dominance of the critical metals supply chain such as Copper, Cobalt, Lithium, Tantalum(Coltan) especially as the highest priority. With the increased use of eDrones Americas military need a secure source of these minerals. Some of these minerals reach China via the railway corridor from Iran and thus it is essential that those those infrastructure benefitting China be destroyed, hence it is in this light that the devious attack on Iran by American proxy Israel can be explained. This infrastructure push by America aims to provide alternatives to China-led projects and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), countering China's growing influence through BRICS and related economic corridors. South Africa, as a founding BRICS member and a key regional power, is a crucial leverage point for expanding BRICS influence into Africa. The Lobito Corridor and related infrastructure projects signal efforts by the US and allies to offer competing development models and maintain influence in the region and it is clear the current Angola government has been bought lock, stock and barrel by the Americans and its allies. The recent diplomatic tensions and perceived 'insult' to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House can be seen as part of this broader geopolitical contest, reflecting friction over South Africa's leading role in BRICS and its strategic positioning between Western and Chinese spheres of influence. America's Geoeconomic Dilemma The US faces a dilemma: preserve dollar dominance through diplomatic engagement, or use hard power—military or financial—to deter alternatives. History suggests Washington is willing to project power to defend its economic architecture. But as dedollarisation efforts become decentralized and digitally nimble, the old levers lose some of their Iran, whether militarily or economically, may not just be about regime machinations but is intended to be a strategic strike on a key pillar of the dedollarisation front. A Global Rebalance in MotionWe are living through the slow dismantling of a unipolar order and as Prof Richard Wolff describes the decline of American Empire. The question is not whether dedollarisation will happen, but how—and at what cost to the current architects of global trade. For BRICS and its partners, this is a path toward sovereignty and away from American hegemony For Washington, it's the potential unraveling of its financial superpower status. And for the rest of the world, it could mean a future where no single currency holds the world hostage. * Masibongwe Sihlahla, Independent Writer, Political Commentator and Social Justice Activist. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Skills for a changing world: embracing the youth for meaningful economic participation
Amid a rapidly transforming global economy, one truth remains constant: South Africa's greatest asset is its young people. This Youth Month, as we reflect on the courage of the 1976 generation, we must also confront the urgent task before us — ensuring today's youth are equipped with the skills they need not only to participate in the economy, but to lead and shape it. We are not short of talent or ambition. Young people are brimming with ideas, energy and vision. What they lack are pathways. The skills crisis we face is not just about education — it's about access, equity and relevance. The exclusion of black South Africans from meaningful skills training under apartheid has left deep scars. Designed to limit, not uplift, apartheid's education and labour policies robbed generations of the opportunity to thrive. Today's high youth unemployment — over 45% — is not just an economic failure; it is the legacy of a deliberate historical injustice. Yet we cannot only look to the past. Our failure to reform outdated models of education and training is also perpetuating the crisis. Too many of our systems are still preparing young people for jobs that no longer exist. I agree with Deputy President Paul Mashatile's statement during his Youth Day address that, 'South Africa must address the structural challenges in its economy to tackle inequality and the growing mismatch between education and labour market demands'. He went on to say: 'There is urgent need to future-proof our young people with adaptable skills and the necessary capabilities to navigate the evolving labour market and contribute meaningfully to the growth of our economy and industries in an era of rapid technological and social transformation.' Being conscious of what has contributed to the issues young people face, we must now concentrate on paths rather than pit stops. As stated explicitly by Mashatile, , 'This is more than just a financial issue. It is a moral emergency. It affects our whole society and demands urgent action from all sectors, including government, business and communities at large.' Let us commit to a South Africa where a girl in a rural village has the same opportunity to code, create and lead as anyone else. Let us build systems that don't just prepare youth for work but prepare them to reshape the future of work No-one should be left behind; we must ensure that every young South African leaves school with a tangible next step: into a job, a business, a skill or further education. To prepare for the South African economy of the future, we must: Modernise education, especially Stem and TVET; Expand digital and green infrastructure in townships and rural areas; Reform public procurement to favour youth- and women-owned businesses; Support fintech solutions for youth credit access; and Embed entrepreneurial education and financial literacy from an early age. The 21st century economy demands a new vision that includes digitisation, climate change, artificial intelligence and the rise of the green economy, which is reshaping work. We must therefore prioritise: Digital skills — from coding to cybersecurity and data analytics; ensure authenticity in AI and data analytics, we must centre human behaviour, acknowledging its influence on data, algorithms and decisions. This means designing systems that are not only intelligent but also ethical, transparent, and accountable to the people they serve; Green skills — including sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and climate resilience; Entrepreneurial and co-operative skills — empowering youth to create rather than wait for opportunities; Critical thinking and civic engagement — enabling youth to understand and transform their environments; and Land Skills — including agribusiness management, mechanisation, drone technology, commercial and enterprise development, industrial and economic skills. These skills should further include export market and trade skills. Skills development must not just serve the labour market; it must serve society. Young people must be equipped not only to find work, but to build a more just, sustainable and inclusive economy. This is where the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) comes into the picture. The HRDC aims to reduce the scourge of poverty, inequality and unemployment through creating platforms for social partners to deliberate on the country's skills and human capital development. Our economic transformation must be people-centred. Skills must foster critical consciousness, not just compliance. As education theorist Paulo Freire argues, we must move from 'banking education' to empowering pedagogy — helping youth understand their world and act to change it. Young people must take up opportunities that are available to them to build a better future. Government has made available initiatives like: the Youth Employment Service; NYDA grants; Sefa loans; the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which provide valuable stepping stones; and a South African National Service Institute (Sansi), which create a range of nationwide interventions and programmes with sustainable and clearly defined opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, artificial intelligence, coding and robotics, energy and related value chains, among many others. The Youth of 1976 have paved the path and we do not start from scratch. Let us commit to a South Africa where a girl in a rural village has the same opportunity to code, create and lead as anyone else. Let us build systems that don't just prepare youth for work but prepare them to reshape the future of work. The future imagined and fought for by the generation of 1976 is the one of dignity, equity and shared prosperity. In the words of the Mashatile, young people deserve nothing less than a future in which their skills, creativity and determination may thrive in a world that is constantly changing. • Gadija Brown, special economic adviser to the deputy president
