Letter: Why is femicide still an issue?

Ashley Davison writes:

I often wonder how femicide is still an issue today.

What is it about the concept of women’s equality and power that is so difficult to accept?

Why are women still being raped and murdered every three hours in South Africa for being the ‘weaker sex’, the ‘submissive gender’ or the ‘lesser partner’ in relationships?

I would love to love my country, but South Africa does not love me.

South Africa is rated among the most violent countries on earth, and from 2019 to 2020 saw a 1.4 per cent increase in murders, according to the latest annual police report. Women are the target.

ALSO READ: Watch: Tambo Memorial Hospital nurses take a stand against gender-based violence

I am five times more likely to die by rape or murder than any other woman in the world.

Maybe the poor standard of education in South Africa is to blame.

Our society has no understanding of basic self-governance; life is unfair, and no, you actually can’t just take and do whatever you want, especially if it involves another individual’s life.

Yes, culture and religion come into play, but in our ‘free’ country, women should have the authority to break away from those who cause them fatal harm.

This should be possible, why is it not?

Not only is our education, or lack thereof, to blame but also our policing and justice system.
It is basically non-existent.

If there are no consequences for crime nor any immediate reactions, why would crime stop?

Our president, Ramaphosa, has called the gender-based violence in our country a pandemic.

It certainly is a pandemic, so then why aren’t we doing anything about it?

There is all this talk and then some, but from what I have seen the government is taking no decisive action towards ending these hateful and evil occurrences.

I know I speak the truth when I say South African women are tired of waiting for help that isn’t coming.

The only way forward that I can see is self-protection.

Who else is there to rely on besides ourselves?

Furthermore, I can’t describe the immense relief I feel in knowing there are organisations in South Africa that are finally taking a stand alongside us.

Gun Owners of South Africa has been involved in setting up training programmes that specifically aim to empower women with their right to self-defence.

Now is the time to start realising self-defence is the only true way to save ourselves.

ALSO READ: Watch: Boksburg Correctional Services hosts thought-provoking GBV dialogue