If the moral test of a nation is how that nation treats its most vulnerable members, especially its children, then history will not judge us kindly.
A country where its most vulnerable citizens — women, children, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, among others — are killed indiscriminately is surely in crisis. But in South Africa, violence against women and children is more than a crisis, it is an epidemic. The Constitution is very clear when it comes to the rights of children. Section 28 underscores that every child has the right “to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation”. Yet three are murdered a day.
Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that there were three GBV Bills in parliament awaiting approval. The government’s most current strategy is the 2020 Gender-based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan by the interim steering committee which was established in April last year, after the historic 2018 presidential summit on GBV. On paper, these no doubt show the government’s commitment of government to addressing the scourge. Yet, reality paints a different picture.
This no doubt begs the question — do we need another policy or strategy or committee or even another summit? The policy is existent, but what needs to be questioned is the will of the departments responsible to implement the key policies. The most recent GBVF-NSP mentions little with regards to addressing the violence against children in practical terms. In this regard, another policy is not the answer.
Such an intervention should prioritise prevention, reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection services. Moreover, interventions should prioritise women. In nearly two-thirds of murder cases of children, mothers have been identified or suspected as perpetrators.