Tag: south africa

South Africa’s economic gender gap and wage inequality further perpetuate violence against women

South Africa’s gender gap regarding economic opportunity and participation is growing, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Earlier this month the WEF released its Global Gender Gap report for 2017, which found that the gender gap widened globally for the first time in a decade.

The evolution of the Sexual Offences Act in South Africa, in effect for 10 years

South Africa has some of the most progressive legislation regarding sexual violence today. But this wasn’t always the case.

PRESS RELEASE: SA Constitutional Court to hear case regarding removal of 20 year statute of limitations for sexual offences that do not include rape

On 14 November the Constitutional Court will hear the case seeking confirmation of the South Gauteng High Court judgment handed down on the 19 June by Acting Judge Hartford in the matter between Levenstein (and 7 others) and Sidney Frankel, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, (Case 29573/2016). The judgement struck down section 18 of the Criminal Procedure Act as unconstitutional. The section barred the right to prosecute all sexual offences, other than rape, after a period of 20 years after the offence has been perpetrated.

Why I didn’t report my rape #38 – “I didn’t know it was rape”

I didn’t know it was rape until learning the definition of rape in a psych 101 class.

Why I didn’t report #37 – “I would have been court marshalled”

During the 70′s and 80′s South Africa had compulsory military training (conscription) for all white males, if you refused, you would go to jail for between 10 and 15 years. At the age of 18yrs I was sent to the Air Force for two years and was trained as a radar operator, as I was based close to home and was doing work as an assistant air traffic controller, it was tolerable. Everybody knew I belonged to a very small liberal political party; most white South Africans supported the government with their policy of apartheid. I got used to being ridiculed, on a number of occasions the officers would call everybody for a talk and they would say ” watch out, anybody could be a spy… even..then they would mention me by my rank and name”.

Why I didn’t report my rape #36 – “they didn’t protect me”

The year was 1994 when i was doing my Grade 1 before that i was staying with my GrandMa but that year i had to move in with my Mom (who is disabled) and My Stepdad. My Stepdad was an abusive man towards my mom especially when he is drunk. so we stayed in a 1 room shack.

Why I didn’t report #35 – ‘Who would I tell? My parents?’

I was 15 when I had my first boyfriend.

Why I didn’t report #34 – he was my boyfriend of over a year

I didn’t report my rape because I didn’t say no and I thought that made it my fault. I thought no one would believe that I said no with my body when I froze and couldn’t speak. I also didn’t think people would believe I let me boyfriend of over a year rape me because “rape doesn’t happen in relationships”, right?

Why I didn’t report my rape #33 – ‘she was my only friend’

we were nine. i tell myself i must have imagined it. or maybe dreamt it.

Con court ruling against ‘teen sex’ law protects rape survivors’ rights

Last week’s Constitutional Court ruling decriminalising consensual sexual relationships between teens was met with moralising outrage across the country. Sensationalist media fanned the flames of indignation by failing to contextualise the law’s effect on teen sexual relations – including rape.

Under the impugned sections 15 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) teenage rape survivors, especially girls, run the risk of being criminally charged for being raped.

Police minister presents “false crime data” – Institute for Security Studies

POLICE Minister Nathi Mthethwa has been accused of presenting false crime statistics data today. Researchers at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) told the Daily Dispatch in an exclusive interview, that the calculations presented by Mthethwa were wrong. Democratic Alliance shadow minister of police Dianne Kohler-Barnard also said she believed it was a deliberate attempt… Read More ›

DNA evidence is circumstantial – Supreme Court of Appeal

I was just alerted to this. I have no words. Analysis of judgement to come. Does this make the DNA bill meaningless? Criminal: DNA evidence not enough to convict r ape accused – SCA The evidence regarding the outcome of tests carried out via the most common DNA testing method used in SA has been… Read More ›

Payback as Tholeni killer is sentenced to life in prison

FOR five years, Bulelani Mabhayi went undetected as he raped and murdered women and children in a small Eastern Cape village. Yesterday it was payback time for his victims’ relatives when the courts gave him 25 life jail sentences for a crime spree that has made him one of the most prolific serial murderers in… Read More ›

‘We will never forgive you’ Tholeni community tells serial killer

“WE WILL never forgive him.”

These were the words of the final witness in the Tholeni serial killer trial.

Serial killer apologises to SA, only to admit he would continue killing

THE Eastern Cape man who pleaded guilty this week to murdering 20 people said he was sorry.

On Tuesday Bulelani Mabhayi, 39, plead guilty to all 36 charges levelled against him, which include rape and murder.

If convicted, Mabhayi will be the worst serial killer South Africa has seen in over 15 years.