Crime Stats Reveal Shocking Violence Against Women and Children

Dear Editor

The second quarter crime statistics of 2024 reveal the terrible violence perpetrated against women and children in our country. While violent crime has decreased overall between July and September this year, crimes against women and children continue to increase, often in their homes.

These three months have seen 315 children murdered, the attempted murder of 490 children, and 1 944 were assaulted with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

In this same period, of the 957 women that were murdered, 106 were instances of domestic violence. There were attempted 1 567 attempted murders on women, of which 232 were in domestic violence setting, and 14 366 women were assaulted GBH, of which 4 989 were due to domestic violence.

Of the 10 191 rapes reported, 43% (795) women were the victims of their domestic partners. 129 women suffered sexual assault during domestic violence, and 11 896 suffered common assault in their domestic setting. These women have become part of the tragic truth that one in three women in South Africa have experienced intimate partner violence, as well as the fact that many South African men apparently see women as lesser beings that should “obey” them, may not refuse sex with their husbands, and that women should be beaten in certain circumstances.

Children were also not safe at the educational facilities.

Of the 106 rapes that occurred on the premises of schools, universities, colleges, or day care facilities, 90 of the victims were learners and 6 were students.

There were 13 cases of murder, 24 of attempted murder, and 318 assault GBH cases perpetrated at educational facilities.

The number of real incidences of violence on children which escaped this count, due to not opening police cases, is much, much higher.

While all South Africans are suffering under the perpetual violence of our society, women and children are particularly vulnerable, especially in the places that they’re meant to regard as safe – their homes.

Unless the Government starts up the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the departments which should be working towards fighting GBV (Social Development, Health, Basic Education, and Police) are operating in silos. To deal with these social ills plaguing the country, we need coordination, now.

Regards

Bridget Masango MP
DA Spokesperson on Social Development