Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
domestic violencelatest news & developments
Guns are used in 35% of the murders of women

Police fail to seize domestic violence guns

Guns are used in 35% of the murders of women

Calvin Cloete has prior convictions for malicious damage to property and assault. (Photo supplied)

27s gang member sentenced to life for rape, murder of ex-girlfriend on 21st birthday

Calvin Cloete hacked Carmen Gouws to death with an axe and stomped on her back with such force that he left shoe imprints

Stop killing us: Five times as many South African women are killed by intimate partners than the global average; women with disabilities are 10 times more vulnerable. Photo Sharon Seretlo/Getty Images

Gender-based violence affects one in three women regardless of income group

A report by the Tears Foundation has highlighted that women don’t report cases to the police and call for help from work, emphasising the need for personal, confidential services

Anthology of writing by women survivors of abuse is a healing tool

Shared experiences help women to to break the silence and unrope themselves from trauma and violence

Mother and son embracing on dock at lake. Photo: Getty Images

Parents need healing before children can thrive

A new initiative aims to bring hope for South African families to achieve warm, loving and secure homes

Organisations such as CitizenGo, Family Watch International, Family Policy Institute and Christian Council International promote opposition to abortion, LGBTI rights, reproductive healthcare and comprehensive sexuality education.

OPINION | Epidemic of domestic violence in Africa must be stopped

Instead of colluding with perpetrators of sexual violence, faith institutions and leaders could play a role in reducing the incidence of such acts

Health worker infections have risen to 170 at state and private hospitals and two healthcare staff succumb to the disease in a space of seven days. (Paul Botes/M&G)

Nurses could track domestic violence from stomach pains and headaches

The government had a plan to build domestic violence care into clinic services more than two decades ago but nothing ever came of it. Researcher Lisa Vetten argues it’s not too…

As well as physical violence, domestic abuse can take many different shapes and forms — sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions — most of which often end up escalating to serious physical aggression, according to experts. (Oupa Nkosi)

OPINION| Domestic violence survivors deserve to be free too

It is hoped the regulations for the Domestic Violence Amendment Act strengthen the criminal justice and broader sociomedical systemic response to domestic violence

Despite strong legislation, South Africa is failing to address its unacceptable rates of woman abuse. (Nardus Engelbrecht/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Criminalising gender-based violence is not enough

Despite strong legislation, South Africa is failing to address its unacceptable rates of woman abuse

Mixed signals: Democratic Alliance members marched alongside LGBTQIA+ people at the annual Cape Town Pride Parade. (Rodger Bosch/AFP)

The DA’s pledge to support LGBTQIA+ people is riddled with inconsistencies

The Democratic Alliance needs to realistically assess how it can support LGBTQIA+ people, particularly if it wants to claim to help this community

Getty Images.

Ipid investigating after police officer allegedly shoots and injures girlfriend

The firearm believed to have been used by the sergeant in the shooting was reportedly stolen soon after the incident

Women must be allowed to determine their own future

Gender equality is a political priority

Here’s how the EU is continuing to support women and girls worldwide

It is estimated that one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime.
 (Photo by Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Maintenance payments used to coerce, manipulate, and punish women – it’s also violence

Sonke Gender Justice points finger at fathers who withhold maintenance payments to coerce, manipulate, and punish the mothers of their children

Occupational hazards: Women informal cross-border traders in Zimbabwe have much to contend with, between violent hold-ups to the effects of Covid-19 on their business. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP

Covid-19 border closures hit Zimbabwe’s women traders hard

The past 18 months have been tough for women cross-border traders, who saw their income vanish when borders closed

Shattered beauty: The exhibition, disquieting domesticities, vestiges of violence, is unnerving but does not descend into trauma porn. (Photos: Michael Hall)

Leora Farber: Up close and uncomfortably personal

Leora Farber’s current installation at Iziko South African National Gallery unleashes a plethora of associations and emotions

As well as physical violence, domestic abuse can take many different shapes and forms — sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions — most of which often end up escalating to serious physical aggression, according to experts. (Oupa Nkosi)

Facts and figures: Global domestic violence numbers

“Every day, on average, 137 women are killed by a member of their own family,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, in a…

All gender but zero representation

#SayHerName: The faces of South Africa’s femicide epidemic

This is an ode to the women whose names made it into news outlets from 2018 to 2020. It’s also a tribute to the faceless, nameless women whose stories remain untold.

NSMSA team leader Bernadine Bachar. (David Harrison/M&G)

Helpline a lifeline for those at risk

Many people do not know how to get into a place of safety or information on how to get help when they need it most. A new hotline is changing that

Women are entitled to own land

Too many laws and customs in too many African countries still treat women as minors

The committee tasked to co-ordinate South Africa’s responses to gender-based violence and femicide, which was disbanded in April 2019, has still not been convened.

New laws could prove to be a win for women’s rights activists

Three amendment Bills recently submitted to Parliament have the potential to change the legal landscape for sex offenders, especially the proposed duty to report and act on…