Mishack Mabe
The South African media has pointed out to an increase in domestic violence during the national lockdown period. Could this be true or could it just be fake news?
Covid-19 threatens the health of everyone but women and children are mostly affected during epidemics. The measures taken by the government to protect large populations, including the lockdown, leave women and children vulnerable to violence.
Domestic violence is a hidden consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. As communities around the world are forced to stay at home, women and girls are at a high risk of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
Domestic violence may worsen due to being forced to stay at home, and job losses and not having an income may create tension in households. What’s worse is that women and children are isolated from the people and resources that can help them, and they have few opportunities to distance themselves from their abusers.
What also leaves the victims trapped in abusive households is that in some cases, the woman might be staying indoors because of fear of getting the coronavirus and bringing it home to infect the children.
There are also concerns that the lockdown is leading to an increase in sexual and gender-based violence.
The South African police data confirms the reduction in reported cases of domestic violence, though.
“The national picture reflects a decrease by 69.4% from 9 990 cases between 29 March and 22 April last year, to 3 061 since the lockdown until April 2020 - meaning a difference of 6 929,” announced Police Minister Bheki Cele on 22 April.
The alcohol ban, which will come to an end at the beginning of June, must have decreased the number of domestic violence cases because sober partners may be abusive but are less likely to resort to physical violence. The lockdown might have changed the pattern of abusers.
South Africa has had a high rate of domestic violence and rape before lockdown and it makes sense for domestic violence to decrease during lockdown, with police, soldiers and metro police patrolling and making sure we adhere to the rules and regulations from the government.
The Department Of Social Development works closely with shelters run by NGOs to ensure that services remain accessible and available to victims of domestic violence. Some NGOs, which deal with sexual violence cases such as Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust, are making available online and telephonic reporting and counseling services. Director Kathleen Dey has reported a 50% drop in rape and sexual assault cases against women during lockdown.
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