South Africa is struggling to address its severe gender-based violence (GBV) crisis, with a reactive approach yielding limited results. The country's GBV statistics are alarming, with over 36% of women reporting physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to a 2024 national study. Police recorded 54,040 sexual offence cases in a single year, averaging 148 cases per day. A 2021 survey also found that 76% of South African men admitted to committing GBV at some point in their lives.
Research suggests that violent attitudes and behavior behind GBV are largely formed during school years. A study on convicted rapists in South Africa found that three-quarters of male perpetrators committed their first assault before the age of 20, at an average age of 17. This highlights the need for early intervention in schools to prevent GBV. Experts argue that schools are crucial in shaping children's social interactions and behaviors, making them an ideal setting for GBV prevention.
Successful models of early intervention have been implemented in other countries, such as Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. In Sierra Leone, a whole-school program run across 200 schools between 2023 and 2024 included training teachers and school leaders, building reporting systems, and running age-appropriate lessons on GBV. This resulted in a significant decrease in students experiencing sexual violence, from 85% to 52%, and a five-fold increase in positive gender attitudes among students.
In contrast, South Africa's National School Safety Framework does not acknowledge gender as a driver of violence. A 2025 study of nearly 350 high school learners in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, found that just over half had experienced GBV, with no statistical link to gender. However, fieldwork by researchers Lorretta Mayeza and Deevia Bhana reveals that GBV in schools takes many forms, including boys gazing at and gossiping about girls, and girls being coerced into relationships and beaten for refusing.
Experts emphasize that addressing GBV in schools requires a comprehensive approach that involves teachers, school leaders, and students. This can be achieved through existing laws and policies, such as the Schools Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Sexual Offences Act. However, enforcement and classroom-level implementation are critical. A study of nine GBV NGOs operating across the country found that all nine focus exclusively on secondary and tertiary support, providing counseling, shelters, and legal aid.
The South African government has acknowledged the GBV crisis, with President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly admitting that the country has a GBV issue. However, critics argue that concrete efforts to address the problem are lacking. The government can draw lessons from successful models implemented in other countries and prioritize early intervention in schools to prevent GBV.
Implementing early intervention programs in schools can help change attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate GBV. This approach requires a collaborative effort from teachers, school leaders, students, and the broader community. By working together, South Africa can develop a comprehensive strategy to address its GBV crisis and create a safer and more supportive learning environment for all students.
Key points
- South Africa's GBV crisis requires early intervention in schools rather than reactive legal measures.
- Successful models of early intervention have been implemented in countries like Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
- Existing laws and policies in South Africa can be leveraged to address GBV in schools, but enforcement and classroom-level implementation are critical.
