Political Parties Sidestep Violence Against Women

Political parties in South Africa lack concrete strategies to address violence against women, a problem facing a huge number of their constituents and a significant challenge to the country's development. This was the message to political party representatives at a debate organised by Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Women'sNet and the Political Studies Department of Wits University earlier this month in Johannesburg. While each party representative flourished much of the right rhetoric, the insubstantial and largely simplistic nature of their parties' positions was apparent once the floor opened for questions. Asked how they would address the economic and material deprivation that pushes some women into sex work, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) proposed the introduction of sewing groups. The African National Congress (ANC) sidestepped questions of why they dismantled the specialist Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, while simultaneously pronouncing such crimes a priority.
 
First-time women voters met party promises with some skepticism. Observed a 20-year-old who identified herself as Maninas, "They only talked about how they could change things if we vote for them. Why don't they start now with those changes?" With the exception of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the ANC, party representatives were largely unfamiliar with the issues and out of their depth. No party manifesto adopted a multi-dimensional response to violence against women that went beyond the parameters of the criminal justice system alone. Gender activists are also concerned about what a Jacob Zuma presidency would mean for women and issues of gender violence. Even putting aside previous rape charges brought against him and questions of whether polygamy and gender equality can co-exist, activists argue that the conduct of the rape trial and stigmatising treatment of the woman involved undoubtedly further reduced women’s confidence in coming forward.