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Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
South Africans believe the country is ‘headed in the wrong direction', survey shows
Out of line: A study by the Human Sciences Research Council for the Electoral Commission of South Africa found that 79% of respondents think the country is 'headed in the wrong direction' while less than two-thirds were 'satisfied' with democracy. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy A new study shows that most South Africans are sceptical about the country and want more transparency about political funding and donors This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
The Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
'No way police can lead fight against GBV': minister Senzo Mchunu
Some opposition MPs did not take kindly to the remarks. ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe acknowledged the role of other sectors but said the police must shoulder a central role. 'I agree that there are other stakeholders that have to be involved in attempting to reduce GBV,' he said. 'But whenever there is violence — no matter what kind — the police must take responsibility to ensure the safety and security. They must make sure those men who are violent are arrested.' Meshoe warned that if the SAPS failed to prioritise GBV, women and children would remain vulnerable. Mchunu responded that police are not seeking to escape responsibility but rather emphasising that prevention requires community-wide involvement. Last month Mchunu presented the country's latest crime statistics which painted a grim picture. 'Women remain disproportionately affected by rape, assault GBH and murder. Our resolve to fight GBVF is unwavering,' he said. South Africa continues to face one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. According to Stats SA one in three women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has suffered sexual abuse. The Human Sciences Research Council found that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime. TimesLIVE
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
A reflection of GBV within the sporting landscape
Where is the accountability? Former Orlando Pirates attacker Thembinkosi Lorch was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend two years ago. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. After he served his two-week suspension, he resumed his career and earned a big-money move to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he won the league title during the 2023/24 season. He then moved to Wydad Casablanca. Currently, he's preparing to represent the Moroccan giants at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which kicked off in Miami this Sunday morning. It seems that Lorch is off the hook, and his assault on his then-girlfriend has now been forgotten. Other footballers have been accused in the past, but charges were either not opened or their cases never made it to court. In a country where 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime, according to a report by the Human Sciences Research Council, sweeping Lorch's past transgressions under the rug paints a picture that the scourge of GBVF is not important. The Human Sciences Research Council report revealed that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older – amounting to over 7.8 million women – have endured physical violence in their lifetime. A fresh incident in everyone's mind is that of Manchester United player, Mason Greenwood. The forward was accused of raping and assaulting a woman. Image: AFP A fresh incident in everyone's mind is that of Manchester United player, Mason Greenwood. The forward was accused of raping and assaulting a woman. He was arrested in January 2022 after a video and images went viral. In 2023, BBC reported that the charges were dropped. According to SABC Sport, Greenwood has "revitalised his career in Ligue 1." Another soccer player, Thamsanqa Gabuza was arrested for allegedly trying to force himself on his then girlfriend. The former TS Galaxy player appeared in court and was granted Times reported that he has since moved to AmaTuks. Thamsanqa Gabuza was arrested for allegedly trying to force himself on his then girlfriend. Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix Dr Zubeda Dangor, of The Nisaa Institute for Women's Development, says it's important for clubs to publicly condemn gender-based violence and femicide and make it clear that such behaviour is not tolerated. Dangor feels that while there has been progress in condemning GBVF in sport, more could be done to promote gender equality and prevent GBVF. She urged clubs to develop clear policies, provide education, and collaborate with experts. 'Sports clubs and organisations should collaborate with experts, including GBVF specialists, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, to ensure effective response and support for survivors.' The three biggest clubs in South Africa were approached for comment, and to find out what measures were in place to combat GBV in South Africa. Only Kaizer Chiefs replied and said they would need until the end of the month to respond to IOL. What Dangor would love to see is clubs using their platforms to raise awareness and shift public attitudes towards GBV. She said social media campaigns can be used to share educational content, personal stories, and resources related to GBVF. 'By leveraging their platforms, sports clubs can play a significant role in raising awareness, shifting public attitudes, challenging myths, and supporting existing GBVF services,' she said. IOL
Mail & Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Editorial: A path forward at last
Victims of abuse, harassment and rape are too often confronted with obtuse bureaucrats behind the counter. (Media24/Lulama Zenzile) The reporting of sexual violence has been one of the ugliest blights of our democracy. Research throughout the years has revealed disturbing accounts of women regularly shunned at police stations. Victims of abuse, harassment and rape are too often confronted with obtuse bureaucrats behind the counter. These officers are either too lazy to file the necessary paperwork or refuse to take a woman's account seriously. The more malicious among them will flip the accusation — the archaic 'you shouldn't have been wearing that' refrain. While sexual crimes predominantly affect women and children, anecdotes of men who have faced ridicule for reporting abuse are equally harrowing. The result is a society hobbled by mistrust and trepidation of the system's processes. A report by the Human Sciences Research Council in November estimated that only one in five women who endure sexual abuse report it to the authorities. That number is chilling. Abuse begets further violence, contributing to the country's appalling femicide rates. Over the years, we have dedicated more column inches to this affliction than almost any other issue. It is thus with great interest that we watched the police service's briefing to parliament's portfolio committee on police this week. A plan was put forward that contained some compelling suggestions. These included changes to the regulatory framework, increased investigative capacity and structural improvements to police stations intended to encourage victims of sexual abuse to come forward. The obvious point is that it will take more than a PowerPoint presentation to convince a beleaguered South African that the plan will be rolled out timeously and have a measurable effect. Let alone a journalist. But we are happy to applaud any sincere effort that proposes new, creative solutions. Apathy in government has been an exacerbating factor in this crisis. For too long, officials have been drunk on a dangerous cocktail of lethargy and cognitive dissonance. It's a low bar, but acknowledging the problem and the need to do things differently is a hurdle that we have not always been able to take for granted. On the same note, our writer Umamah Bakharia has done some excellent work reporting on the sex offender register that is in limbo, awaiting amendments to legislation. We don't have all the answers on the best approach to the situation, but it is imperative that as a society we introduce frameworks that are universally considered fair. A failure to do so inflames vigilantim; people distrustful of authorities take matters into their own hands. Regrettably, it's taken 30 years of democracy, but these are the conversations we desperately need to be having.
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
A long walk to economic freedom for the youth
On June 16, 1976, thousands of students in Soweto took to the streets to demonstrate against Bantu Education and the imposition of Afrikaans in their schools. When the youth protested on June 16, they did so with clarity, conviction, and courage. Their mission was not only to fight against the indignity of being taught in Afrikaans but to stand up against the injustice of apartheid, says the writer. Image: Mike MIZLENI / AFP Kim Heller The most appropriate homage to the 1976 generation of young activists would be for the youth of today to take up the revolutionary baton and complete the race for total liberation in South Africa. This will require a focused and resolute vision and purpose, coupled with the spirit of fierce commitment to freedom and justice demonstrated by the youth in South Africa in June 1976. When the youth protested on 16 June 1976, they did so with clarity, conviction, and courage. Their mission was not only to fight against the indignity of being taught in Afrikaans but to stand up against the injustice of apartheid, which brutally crushed the hopes and dreams of African people. They nobly fulfilled their generational mission. While political democracy has dawned in South Africa, the youth of today, the Born Frees, are yet to find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Instead, caught in the stillbirth of economic liberation, they are at risk of becoming a lost generation. Rather than building on the solid foundation of the struggles of yesteryear and being the architects of a more prosperous tomorrow for future generations, today's youth are caught in the ruins of historical injustice and inequality. Wandering like waifs along a deserted path, hopeless and hapless. The picture is gloomy. There are well over three million unemployed young South Africans. The education system is failing miserably in addressing systemic imbalances. Government job creation is limited and ineffective. Universities are graduating students who cannot find jobs. That nearly half of all South Africans aged between 15 and 24 are jobless should be a red flag for the government. Deficient governance and the debauchery of politicians plundering public funds for youth and social development programmes established a bankrupt leadership ethos which misdirects the youth. Youth innovation and industry are vital if young South Africans are to prosper. The idea is for the youth to jump-start themselves, but this is unrealistic given the economic constraints and marginalisation of the majority of young people in South Africa. High levels of government and business investment are necessary. So, too, is the correct leadership blueprint. Youth development cannot flourish on an inkwell of corruption or the poisoned pen of seriously compromised political and business leaders. A 2023 study by the Human Sciences Research Council showed that twenty-three per cent of young South Africans believed that hard work is the best route to better financial status, while forty-nine per cent felt that having political connections was a more effective pathway to prosperity. Ongoing systemic negligence by the ANC government has produced a despondent, largely paralysed youth stuck in a wheel of dependency on paltry government handouts. Mental health issues are skyrocketing, with suicide being the fourth highest leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds. Government handouts need to be replaced, or at least strongly supplemented by a sturdy undercarriage of sustainable public and private sector investment. The Presidency should be obsessed daily with a high target, strictly monitored youth development and empowerment programme, which includes sustainable job creation and start-up youth business hubs across the nation. Anything less is a betrayal of the youth. Social grant safety nets have become a cage, feeding dependency. In the serial failure of government promises, the youth of today will need to look to themselves for salvation. It is a risky business for many. Research conducted by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in 2024 found that South Africa's youth were highly risk-averse, with 62% citing fear of failure as a barrier to starting businesses. Dr Frantz Fanon wrote that "each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it." He stresses the need for the youth to seize its moment. On June 16, 1976, young African children seized the moment, in the very worst of conditions, and overcame them. The potential of today's youth to inspire change is immense despite their difficult circumstances. The world bore witness to the unity of the Kenyan youth against the Finance Bill in 2024, which led to a review of government policy. The Nigerian youth protests in 2024 drew world attention and condemnation of police brutality in the nation. Young Sudanese activists have been very vocal and effective in their fight for human rights and good governance. In many African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, youth-led digital enterprises are increasing financial inclusion and greater access to education and are beginning to activate new production and distribution value chains. An attitude of self-betterment and self-liberation is the redemption song of today's youth. Despair is not a strategy, and noise-making without a coordinated voice is ineffective. Purpose is prince and unity is king. This was aptly demonstrated by the 2024 Kenyan protestors, the children of 1976 in apartheid South Africa, and the Fees Must Fall movement in post-apartheid South Africa. A coordinated youth programme is urgently needed to compel the government and businesses to take the plight of young South Africans more seriously. So, too, is a national campaign to self-drive and self-direct youth-driven projects. The youth of South Africa constitute almost 35 per cent of the overall population. They have the right and responsibility to shape the nation's future. It can be done. Nothing is impossible. In the words of Muhammad Ali, "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it." * Kim Heller is a political analyst and author of No White Lies: Black Politics and White Power in South Africa. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
