The Minister in The Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has reiterated her call for social cohesion to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Chikunga’s call comes after another brutal murder of a woman by her boyfriend.
Aged 25, Shana Balie’s lifeless body was found in her boyfriend’s home in Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, on 26 December 2024.
Her family last saw her on Christmas Day.
It is alleged that Balie was beaten to death by her boyfriend, Jonathan Gewindt. Her lifeless body was found by the police buried in the backyard, where her boyfriend was renting.
Gewindt has since confessed to the killing and is expected to appear in Blue Downs Magistrate Court on Thursday.
Chikunga has strongly condemned Balie’s brutal murder.
Chikunga said the persistence of GBVF reflects deeply ingrained societal norms and structures that perpetuate male dominance, and reinforce misogyny, gender hierarchies and power imbalances within families and communities.
“This leads to female subordination and systemic inequalities that lead to violence against women and girls.”
The Minister maintained that addressing cultural and legal dimensions, is essential for fostering a just and equitable society in which gender norms do not perpetuate violence and inequality.
"We must act decisively to address not only the immediate instances of GBVF but also the structural, cultural, and systemic factors that perpetuate violence against women and girls. Our efforts must be centred on empowering women and fostering a society free from all forms of gender-based violence,” she said.
Despite the government's policy commitment to end GBVF, Chikunga said South Africa continues to experience the scourge and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) which stems from GBVF.
“The persistently high rates of GBVF victimisation and perpetration, despite existing legislative frameworks and policies, suggest the need for a comprehensive approach that does not only address the immediate instances of violence, but also includes a focus on women and girls to tackle the underlying structural and systemic factors that trap them in these circumstances,” Chikunga said.
The Minister is expected to visit the Balie family home on Thursday, to reaffirm her commitment to ensuring justice is served for the victim, and to provide further reassurance to the grieving family. – SAnews.gov.za
