30/03/2026
A few months ago, our President, Cyril Ramaphosa, declared gender-based violence a national disaster. The question we must ask ourselves is: does this declaration truly hold weight?
Every day, the most vulnerable in our society continue to suffer at the hands of those they trust the most. Women are assaulted by their partners, and in many cases, that violence escalates to murder.
South Africa has laws in place to protect victims. One of the most important is the Domestic Violence Act. This Act allows a victimâor someone acting on their behalfâto apply for a protection order.
If the court believes there is imminent danger, it may grant an interim protection order with a warrant of arrest attached. A court date is then set, where the respondent must explain why a final protection order should not be granted. If the court is satisfied, a final protection order is issued.
But here is the harsh reality:
A protection order does not physically stop the abuse.
It only becomes enforceable once it is violatedâonce the abuse happens again.
At that point, it becomes a criminal matter. If the accused is found guilty, imprisonment is possible. Importantly, domestic violence cases cannot simply be withdrawn once they are before a criminal court. The law has also been tightenedâaccused persons must apply for bail, even as first-time offenders.
The law is strict. The mechanisms are there.
So why is the abuse continuing?
As someone working closely with victims, I often sit across from clients who no longer want to proceed with their casesâbecause they depend financially on their abuser. This is the reality we do not talk about enough.
Financial abuse is one of the most devastating forms of abuse.
And yet, it is one of the hardest to prove.
Even though the law recognises financial abuse, many victims are told at police stations that it is a âcivil matter,â leaving them without immediate protection.
So I ask: when is enough, enough?
My heart breaks when women share stories of enduring years of abuseâphysical, emotional, and financial. And even after divorce, especially where there are minor children, the abuse often continues in different forms.
On paper, our laws are strong. They recognise victims. They provide remedies.
But they are not enough.
Real change does not start in courtroomsâit starts in our homes and communities.
We must raise a generation of boys who understand respect, accountability, and equality.
Mothers, we cannot stay silent when our daughters-in-law and grandchildren are suffering. Turning a blind eye only continues the cycle.
We cannot rely solely on government to protect what happens behind closed doors.
It takes a village to raise a child.
And it will take a village to end this pandemic of gender-based violence.
Because right now, the law is not preventing the harmâ
it is only responding after the damage is already done.
And prevention will always be better than cure.
