Most men who abuse women were often abused as children and grew up in abusive and unstable communities and the cycle of abuse continues. These are the findings that were shared during a stakeholder engagement on Wednesday, 25 August 2021. Held under the theme “The Role of Local Government in the fight against gender-based-violence and femicide”, it was convened by the City of Joburg Speaker of Council, Cllr Nonceba Molwele. The session was held at Soweto Theatre, with not more than 50 people in attendance and other attendees connected online to comply with Covid-19 regulations.

Lisa Vetten, a researcher and project consultant, called on the City to have a comprehensive approach in dealing with gender-based violence, especially at the identified hotspots areas across the City such as in Diepsloot, Alexandra, Dobsonville and Moroka. 

“What the study tells us is that, most of these men who inflict such violence on women grew up in violent families themselves as children. They have depression and it’s men who have gone hungry on regular basis,” said Vetten.

According to Vetten, Diepsloot was reporting an increase in the cases of gender-based violence. A study by Sonke Gender Justice, which looked at men’s attitudes, also found that it was not enough just having dialogues and workshops that are aimed at changing men’s use of violence against women.

Vetten said there were other issues at play as far as gender-based-violence was concerned in the hotspots areas, and these included a lack of housing, depression and mental issues, a lack of street lighting to make the place safe, open spaces and a lack of access to public transport. Cllr Molwele challenged men to lead in the fight against gender-based violence as it is systematically entrenched and rooted in patriarchy.

“It is men also that need to be in the forefront in the fight against gender-based violence. But the narrative needs to begin to shift because there are many roleplayers that need to come to the fore in the fight against gender-based violence, and men need to start featuring more and more as it relates to their contribution to this fight,” said Cllr Molwele.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance in the City of Joburg, Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe, said society must start to teach the boy-child how to show their true emotions.

“We must stop saying boy children must not cry. We must teach them to show their emotions. It’s also us women who teach them not to show their emotions. That is why we are developing stereotype boys. Boys must also do home chores. Society has taught boys that they are superior to girls. We must start to develop the loving and caring boy-children,” said Cllr Mfikoe.

Disele May, a social activist and the survivor of gender-based violence, spoke about how she has used her horrible past experience to empower other women and youth who were victims of gender-based violence.

“I was married at the age of 22 and was unemployed. Abuse started when I got a job. That’s when his insecurities began. I would often open assault cases against him, but he would beg me to forgive him and withdraw those charges. He threatened to kill me. After years of relentless abuse, I summoned the courage to leave him and divorced him,” said May.

Today, May is in charge of programmes to rehabilitate offenders in prisons. She has used her past pain to assist perpetrators of gender-based violence to give back to the communities, assisting them to be re-integrated into communities, and empowering gender-based-violence victims and the youth.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Joburg, Cllr Eunice Mgcina, said the City has a number of interventions to assist victims of gender-based violence.

“We have our draft gender-based violence policy framework, which is going to be tabled in Council to ensure that the gender-based-violence is addressed throughout the City. The City has also established a 24-hour crisis line for substance abuse and the gender-based violence victims,” said Cllr Mgcina.

She added that the City has developed strong partnerships with police and courts.  The City also plans to launch a gender-based violence and femicide advisory committee, which will comprise experts in the field.

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, challenged leaders and officials to ask difficult questions. 

“What difference are we going to make individually or as the organisations? We must find the root causes of this gender-based-violence. You can’t say you take gender issues seriously, if your budget doesn’t reflect that reality.  We need gender-sensitive and responsive budgets,” said Tsenoli.