A recent string of brutal murders in Ekurhuleni, South Africa, has brought attention to the country's alarming rates of gender-based violence. Nine women have been found murdered in fields, beside roads, and in open spaces, with police investigating whether the killings are connected. The murders have sparked outrage and renewed calls for action to address the issue. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, 42,569 rapes were reported to the police in 2023/24, with a 74% conviction rate for sexual offences in 2024/25.
The murders are part of a larger pattern of violence against women in South Africa. In 2022, women were killed at a rate of 12.2 per 100,000, almost six times the global average. This translates to approximately seven women being killed every day. The issue has been ongoing, with community leaders and politicians condemning the violence and promising to take action. However, the columnist, Lisa Sukdev, argues that words are not enough and that definitive action is needed from government, the justice system, communities, and families.
Sukdev believes that men have a crucial role to play in addressing the issue. She argues that men need to take responsibility for raising better sons and teaching them to respect women, protect them, and honour their dignity. This requires men to be present in their children's lives, not just financially but emotionally, and to model respectful behaviour. Sukdev also emphasizes the importance of teaching accountability and consent from childhood.
According to Sukdev, raising better men requires a deliberate effort from both men and women. This includes being present, modelling respect, teaching accountability, teaching consent and emotional discipline, and healing wounds within the home. Sukdev argues that love, discipline, boundaries, and values must return to families, and that men and women must work together to raise people who build rather than break.
Sukdev's call to action is part of a broader conversation about the need for men to take responsibility for addressing gender-based violence. The issue has been highlighted by various campaigns and initiatives, including the #MeToo movement and the South African government's efforts to address GBV. However, Sukdev's emphasis on the role of men in raising better sons adds a new perspective to the conversation.
The columnist's article has sparked a renewed conversation about the need for men to take responsibility for addressing GBV. Sukdev's message is clear: men need to take action to raise better sons and become the shield, not the perpetrator. This requires a fundamental shift in the way men think about and interact with women, as well as a commitment to teaching boys and young men about respect, accountability, and consent.
The issue of GBV is complex and multifaceted, and Sukdev's solution is not a simple one. However, her emphasis on the role of men in raising better sons highlights an important aspect of the issue. By working together, men and women can create a safer, more equitable society for all. Sukdev's article is a call to action, urging men to take responsibility for raising better sons and to become part of the solution to GBV.
Key points
- Men must take responsibility for raising better sons to combat GBV.
- The issue of GBV in South Africa requires a multifaceted approach.
- Definitive action is needed from government, the justice system, communities, and families to address GBV.
