The recent discovery of the bodies of nine women in and around Kempton Park has once again highlighted the danger that women face in South Africa. However, this incident has not introduced a new fear, but rather confirmed the existing one that shapes how women move, work, socialize, worship, and exist in public. As a result, women are given familiar warnings: avoid walking or running alone, steer clear of isolated areas, change your routine, and exercise in groups.
These temporary precautions have become permanent rules for women, with every new act of violence producing another instruction. Meanwhile, little is said to the men who make those instructions necessary. Women already take several measures to ensure their safety, such as sharing their locations, photographing vehicle registration numbers, checking the back seats of their cars, watching their drinks, and telling someone when they arrive home.
The fear of violence begins with ordinary situations, such as standing in a queue or being approached by a man while walking. A woman may feel compelled to give a man her number, not because she is interested, but because she fears his response to rejection. Even a false number may not offer an escape when he calls it immediately to check.
This reality also restricts access to nature for traditional healers, herbalists, and indigenous knowledge practitioners. Rivers, mountains, and the veld are places of prayer, cleansing, spiritual connection, and learning, but women must consider their safety before entering these areas. They must remain alert to the people and movement around them and often take precautions, such as ensuring they have cellphone reception and being accompanied by someone.
According to the Human Sciences Research Council's national Gender-Based Violence Study, based on data collected in 2022, an estimated 35.5% of adult women in South Africa had experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes. About 2.5-million ever-partnered men had perpetrated physical violence against an intimate partner.
Women's fear is not based only on isolated incidents or sensational news reports. The response "not all men" offers no practical protection when a woman cannot identify which man will accept her refusal and which one will become aggressive. Instead of continually teaching women how to avoid danger, South Africa must address the behavior women are being taught to fear.
Men must respect physical boundaries, accept rejection without argument, and understand that politeness is not consent. Institutions must also meet measurable standards, with police investigating reports competently and communicating with victims and their families. Ultimately, men must enter these conversations not only as fathers, brothers, husbands, or protectors but as citizens responsible for challenging other men.
Key points
- Women in South Africa live with a set of rules to stay safe in a society marred by violence and sexual aggression.
- The threat of violence limits women's access to public spaces, including streets, offices, parks, and natural areas.
- Changing the behavior of men is crucial to addressing the root causes of violence against women in South Africa.
