As South Africa marks the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, a new study revealed that alcohol plays a significant role in gender-based violence (GBV), especially in areas such as Ga-Rankuwa outside Pretoria.
The joint study done by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance and the South African Medical Research Council highlights the urgent need to address alcohol’s role in GBV.
The study maps alcohol outlet density and outlet trading times in Ga-Rankuwa and Thembalethu in the Southern Cape.
The findings reveal an alarming prevalence of alcohol outlets in residential areas, contributing to harmful drinking patterns and increased violence.
“In Ga-Rankuwa, 92.7% of the 178 identified outlets operate in residential zones, while in Thembalethu, 96% of 205 outlets are similarly situated,” Dr Leane Ramsoomar, one of the study leaders, said.
She pointed out that the average alcohol outlet density in some zones in Thembalethu exceeds seven outlets per 1,000 people. Compounding the issue is the high number of unlicensed outlets - 55% in Ga-Rankuwa and 76% in Thembalethu—many of which operate outside regulated hours, often 24/7.
“Research consistently shows that high alcohol outlet density and weak enforcement of regulations amplify GBV and related harms, including femicide, rape, and child abuse. Alcohol also exacerbates societal inequalities by placing undue pressure on public health, law enforcement, and social services,” Aadielah Maker Diedericks, another study leader, said.
SAAPA-SA urged the government to adopt evidence-based measures, including halting new liquor licenses in densely populated areas and enforcing operating hours and licence compliance.
“We call on government to prioritise enacting the stalled Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016, which provides a framework to reduce alcohol-related harms and protect vulnerable communities,” Diedericks said.
The court meanwhile turned down the appeal of a woman abuser against his 10-year jail sentence after he stabbed his partner three times with a beer bottle.
This was after she had obtained a protection order against him. Madodi Manzini told the Mpumalanga High Court, sitting in Mbombela, that his sentence was shockingly harsh and he asked for it to be reduced on appeal.
The appellant and the complainant were in a love relationship, but due to his abuse, she lost all love for him. She obtained a protection order against Manzini after he had damaged her door, threatened to get even with her or kill her.
The victim said he told her that he was not afraid of the police or jail. On the night of the assault incident for which he was jailed for 10 years, he arrived at her home just after midnight.
He assaulted her with bare hands and stabbed her with a beer bottle, while threatening to cut her throat. The complainant’s grandchild was woken up by her screams and she ran to their neighbours to seek assistance.
It emerged that he was married with four children while he had an affair with the victim.
In aggravation of the sentence, the prosecutor said that the accused is one of those men who believe that when they are in a relationship with a woman, they own her.
The prosecutor asked for a direct imprisonment of 10 years as that would give the complainant “room to breathe and live free from fear for some time.”
Acting Judge S Msibi told Manzini that people in this country are being made aware of violence against women and children throughout various campaigns and the media.
“It is people like you who give men in this country a bad name. You were married, you are having your own children, but you were in a relationship with the complainant and you treated her as an object, not as a human being,” the judge said in turning down his appeal.
Pretoria News