I greet you in the Mighty Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How are you doing today? I have been waiting to discuss this burning issue we’re currently facing as women in our country. GBV is a matter that affects us all more especially women and young girls, including the ones lower grades and universities, before we go to deep let’s pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, we come before you in this day and we acknowledge the great work you’ve done for us as you died on the cross for our sins. Lord there’s no else who can do what you did. May you please forgive us our sins and cleanse our hearts as we truly forgive those who hurt us, those who made us feel unworthy of your love as we forgive even
those who have measured us to be nothing. Lord Jesus Christ we forgive them as you’ve forgiven us. May our hearts on this day forward be filled with peace as we welcome you in our hearts as our Lord and Saviour. We believe you died and rose from the dead and we confess with our mouth that you Jesus are the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, please teach us more today. Holy spirit our attention is yours to teach and guide us.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you Amen and Amen.
As I said that GBV affects us all but more especially young girls in lower grades and those higher learning institutions are more affected, up to the woman in different work places. The statics keep on increasing every year and the cases are worsening every time we hear them. Recently there’s been a case in wits university of an alleged rape and the case was reported, CCTV was reviewed and the victim was promised to be
supported and the matter to be investigated but that didn’t happen as the victim saw her perpetrator in the premises walking freely which then this led to wits protest of handling GBV cases and removal of SRC leader for failing to represent the students and transparency.
How the gender equality office of the varsity did respond positively and took the matter the seriously and confirmed that they did receive full details
about the cases started conducting a full investigation. When institutions don’t take such cases seriously it becomes a serious problem.
Police in Limpopo are investigating a troubling case where a 13-year-old boy allegedly sexually assaulted his five-year-old sister. The boy was playing with his 6 year old sister but this time around the boy made sure they were in secreet so he can assault the sister, the mother saw her daughter bleeding in pain and asked what happened, that's when the mother got angry and reported the case after taking her child to the
hospital. This incident raises critical concerns about child safety and supervision in family setting.
It makes you wonder, what came over the boy to do such a thing.
Although this are bad news to anyone who hears them especially how they're affecting the family, it is with fair understanding that the perpetrators are held accountable and sentenced accordingly, remember the Zathulele Cola's case were he claimed he had consensual sex with the 17 year old girl. Yes that case, well the good part of it is that the western cape Court had denied him bail and will be sentenced, the Zathulele
case is being dealt with it accordingly so the 17 year old girl gets the deserves justice and never to see the perpetrator.
When justice is given to the victims it makes it easier for the victims to heal through time as they attend counseling and receive spiritual help through trusted churches.
In this year alone the number of reported cases and sentenced perpetrators shows a good step towards give justice to the victims, although I wish there could be more that's being done to help prevent and decrease of GBV in the country.
Coming to the statics, the wits case proves that more girls above 18 experience physical or sexual violence as they are growing and that female homicide is at the rate of 24.6 per 100 000 per population and this a huge number, with the case in Limpopo it shows that there are cases in families whereby a rape or abuse happens either by uncle or brother towards cousins or sisters.
In honest families such cases are reported and dealt with accordingly yet there are some families which deal with such cases as family matters which need to be hidden under the carpet in order to protect the reputation of the perpetrator and that of the family, not counting the trauma faced by the victim which will result in resentment towards the family and hate for that person in particular, this makes the victim to grow
up with hate fueled by years of trauma and with their voices being unheard and some victims result in committing suicide.
I know, I was shocked as you are to learn about the case of young girl in KZN who was physically abused by his uncle as she had no parents with as her mother passed away when she 12 years old, since then she's been staying with her uncle till she 23 years when she moved away from the uncle, when the young girl tried to report the matter to her family members she was not given attention as the uncle would defend himself and
say things such as " the girl is lazy”, “too demanding”.
I asked myself why didn't she go to the police and report then I remembered that in the homesteads police stations and far of which these cases add to the numbers of unreported cases and wonder how many cases like this are there.
Lets look at the statics:
• The rate of femicide in South Africa is 6x higher than the world wide average.
• 5,578 women were murdered in 2023/24, a 33,8% increase compared to the year before.
• 1,656 children were murdered in 2023/24, a 38,7% increase compared to the year before.
• 42,569 rape cases were reported to the police in 2023/24.
• It’s estimated that 95% of rape cases are not reported.
• 63,054 assaults with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on women in 2023/24.
Yes these numbers are high, too high. We can officially say this numbers are not fully accurate they are a summary of the reported cases and the ones that have been dealt with, one of my concerns is the 95% of the unreported cases as they are continuously happening, they need to be approached with sensitivity and care so not to harm the victims but to give them the help they need.
In my opinion I think more can be done to reduce the numbers of cases and more especially the unreported cases is to make awareness in the homesteads to combat family hidden abuse.
After assisting the victims from their perpetrators they'll need counseling which is conducted In a productive manner that will help them trust and build life for themselves which make them strong and be able to comfort others.
I believe this can be done and achieved.
When victims are given counselling they need to be reminded that God loves them and won't abandon them. Jesus Christ died for us on the cross for our sins so we may be called his own.
Let's read this verse: Psalm 34
”The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.”
We may try and comfort the victims by our own means and trials but Lord is close to them as they are broken hearted and need God's help and trust to heal them. Peace given by God surpasses all kinds of peace you can think of.
Matthew 11
”Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]”
”Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.”
Introducing Jesus Christ to the victims will be of their benefit as He will take all the burden they carry as unforgiveness is heavy and can cause depression in a person's life and Jesus Christ offers to take all that burden from those who come to him as they are. This applies to anyone who comes to him even victims of GBV can go to Jesus and he'll help them.
To all the victims: Your story matters. Your voice matters. Your healing is possible. You are not alone, and what you endured does not define who you are. God’s heart leans toward you with tenderness, strength, and justice. Isaiah 41:10 ”Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”
You know what? we can talk all day me and you and not even care about time. for today we'll end here.
Let's us pray and thank God for such a time as this, let's pray.
Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for such words and teachings, Lord we pray that may you keep us safe and lead into the directions you have for, Lord Jesus Christ we Thank you, may you do it again. Lord Jesus Christ thank you. Amen.