Nawaal Deane
Women and children are dying of poverty in the former Transkei. The children are dying of malnutrition related diseases and the women are victims of violence exacerbated by poverty.
The former homeland of Transkei, one of the poorest regions in South Africa, has the highest mortality rate for women and children in the country.
A study by the University of Transkei reveals shocking statistics of the female mortality rate. “There has been an increasing incidence of female deaths in the past seven years, especially related to gunshot injuries,” says Dr BL Meel, author of the study titled Incidence of Female Mortality in the Transkei. Meel is the head of the department of forensic medicine at the University of Transkei.
Of 4525 violent deaths recorded at the Umtata General hospital in the past seven years, one-third (33%) are female. In 1994 17% of women who died in the region were victims of violence. The study says males are in most cases the perpetrators of crimes against women and are influenced by the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs.
According to the research the increase can be attributed to Transkei having high levels of unemployment where poverty and unemployment make women vulnerable targets of crime and social stress. Women become victims of male frustration and interpersonal conflict.
“Incidental statistics on violent trauma indicate that the Transkei is a very unsafe environment for women to live as they are always under threat of violence and rape,” the study warns.
The study also points out that Transkei has a high incidence of gun ownership. “This high incidence could be partly blamed on the social transformation resulting from apartheid policies and practices.” In 1993 12% of female deaths were attributed to gunshot injuries. By 1998 the figure had climbed to 27%.
The average number of murders of females over seven years stands at 18,1 per 100000 of the population. The number of deaths of females by “sjambok” has decreased from 33% in 1994 to 13% in 1999. “Probably replaced by guns,” the study concludes.
There is still a strongly held belief in Transkei in witchcraft, with many elderly women being killed on the basis of suspicion.
The women are not killed by strangers most of the abuse arises from domestic violence. Physical and sexual abuse of women is a major problem with women likely to be victims of assault, rape or murder by male partners.
The study concludes that there should be further research into the roots of the high mortality rate among women. Education and strong legislation is needed to combat the increase in female mortality rates.
But in recent months the Eastern Cape has also come under the spotlight for having the highest rate of child deaths in the country.
According to a report on SABC3’s Special Assignment, the number of children dying from hunger and malnutrition in Mount Ayliff is increasing. In an effort to reduce these mortality rates Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya has embarked on an extensive campaign to provide immediate relief to poverty-stricken families and communities in the Eastern Cape.
“This report of an increasing number of children dying from malnutrition even before reaching the age of one is indeed a serious indictment on us as a nation and calls for immediate and drastic action by all,” Skweyiya said.