‘Financial dependency prevents GBV survivors from leaving’

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Strategic Leader, Dr. Nompumelelo Zungu, says women are the most vulnerable in society as they are financially dependent on their partners and this makes it difficult for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) to leave an abusive relationship.

Her statement follows the council’s release of results of the first South African National Prevalence Study on GBV in Pretoria yesterday.

The results show that over seven million women in the country have experienced physical and emotional violence in their lives.

Zungu says women living with disability are facing an even greater challenge.

She says, “For a lifetime this report shows that all forms of abuse is very high for women living with disabilities.”

Long-term approach

Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Letsike, is calling for a long-term and holistic approach to fighting GBV.

Letsike says the groundbreaking report has confirmed the alarming rate of violence against women in the country.

She says, “30.1% of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime and that amounts to 7.3 million women in our country. Another 9.8% have faced sexual violence in their lifetime that translates to 2.1 million women in our country.”- Additional reporting by Hasina Gori.

VIDEO | HSRC’s GBV study reveals nearly 40% of SA women face physical and sexual violence: