SAMRC reveals SA’s ‘devastating’ femicide crisis, call for action

The Eastern Cape continues to report the highest femicide rates in the country, while Gauteng saw a significant increase in cases during 2020/21.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Gender and Health Research Unit has released the results from their fourth national femicide study which revealed that South Africa continues to have some of the highest femicide rates in the world.

A disturbing increase in intimate partner femicide and a decline in convictions was highlighted.

The report covers the four surveys from 1999 to 2020/21 – the first year of Covid-19.

According to the report, 60% of women murdered in 2020/21 were killed by an intimate partner, an increase from previous years.

Despite an overall drop in femicide during the pandemic’s alcohol ban periods, intimate partner femicide increased.

Convictions also dropped, with fewer than 1 in 5 intimate partner femicide cases resulting in a conviction.

The study shows that women’s chances of receiving justice significantly decreased, with more cases of unidentified perpetrators.

“Femicide is preventable. Yet, in South Africa, reports of another femicide have become the new normal.

“We must address this crisis with urgency, especially given the sharp rise in intimate partner femicide during the pandemic,” said Professor Naeemah Abrahams, chief specialist scientist at the SAMRC Gender and Health Research Unit.

While intimate partner femicide rates dropped from four women a day in 1999 to three in 2009, this number has remained unchanged since 2009.

However, 2020/21 saw a worrying shift. Intimate partner femicides now account for 60.1% of all femicides, and 1 in 6 women murdered showed evidence of sexual violence.

“These figures are devastating.

Femicide is not just a criminal justice issue – it reflects deeply rooted societal inequalities and requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to prevent and reduce it,” Abrahams said.

The Eastern Cape reported the highest femicide rates in South Africa.

Provinces like the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Free State saw slight decreases, though these differences were not significant.

The findings also reveal significant gaps in convictions, particularly as perpetrator identification rates dropped.

“When we allow these cases to go unsolved and unpunished, we not only fail the victims but also send a message that gender-based violence and femicide are tolerated.”

The SAMRC report is based on a review of mortuary files, autopsy reports, and interviews with police investigators.

“Missing data on perpetrators has increased over the years, resulting in more cases going unresolved.

“To mitigate the impact of this missing data, researchers used statistical techniques to attribute likely perpetrators.

“However, this process highlighted the growing challenge of unidentified perpetrators and unsolved cases,” the SAMRC said.

Cape Times