C. HINGSTON AND T. DLAMINI - SOUTH AFRICA’S ‘OTHER’ PANDEMIC: TOWARDS A PANACEA

Gender-based violence is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa that disproportionately affects women and girls. In fact, South Africa holds the shameful distinction of being one of the most unsafe places in the world to be a woman. Women and girls are being abused, assaulted and murdered by men in South Africa almost on a daily basis. The spate of violence against women including femicide has increased alarmingly, to the extent that South Africa is said to be experiencing a second pandemic alongside the Covid-19 pandemic. Violence against women in South Africa has therefore been placed at the centre of inquiry in this paper. Although not a new discussion, the increasingly high levels of violence against women demand an ongoing interrogation for meaningful changes to be effected. Furthermore, it is but fitting that the problems and challenges of suppressed groups (women and girls) be made publicly visible. Using a qualitative methodology, this paper seeks to critically examine and highlight the causative factors of the high rate of violence against women. It posits that it is only in fully understanding the causative factors that meaningful actions can be taken to curb this scourge. Drawing from these causative factors, this paper will also attempt to outline strategies which can assist in curbing violence against women in South Africa. This article is underpinned by feminist post structuralism theory as it explores the ways women are treated in the world and seeks to make changes. It further utilises textual and online materials and employs an interpretivist paradigm to provide space for the voices and concerns of the researchers to be heard. Finally, this paper allows for an academic engagement with this second pandemic in South Africa and provides a platform to proffer a panacea for the pandemic.

Dr Claudine Anita Hingston was born and bred in Sierra Leone where she worked a senior information officer at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and also lectured part time at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She moved to the United Kingdom in 2004 where she worked as an employee of the Leeds City Council. In 2010, she relocated to Durban, South Africa whilst pursuing her PhD and worked as a gender studies lecturer and an academic writing tutor at the university. After graduating in 2015, she started working at MANCOSA Honoris United University in Durban, where she currently heads the MANCOSA Centre for Women Leadership and also serves as an academic lecturer. Dr Hingston is actively engaged in research work and has written and published a number of articles on women, leadership and gender issues. Her areas of interest and expertise includes: women empowerment, gender issues, leadership, African feminism and Africanism. Dr Hingston holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Diploma in Cultural Studies, Diploma in Mass Communications, as well as a Masters and PhD in Gender Studies. She is passionate about advocating for female empowerment and the rights of women.

Mrs. Thandeka Precious Dlamini (Nee Mbambo) was born and bred in Pietermaritzburg. She is a young academic who is currently working at MANCOSA. She holds a Masters of Commerce Degree, Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours Degree and a Bachelor of Arts Degree all from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is passionate about education, research and development as well woman empowerment, especially in rural areas through encouraging entrepreneurship.