60% of murdered women are killed by intimate partners – SAMRC research

John Maytham speaks with Dr Leane Ramsoomar, South African Medical Research Council Researcher and Research Uptake Specialist

Listen below.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has released its latest study into femicide in South Africa.

Seven women are murdered every day in South Africa, with an overall femicide rate of 10.6 per 100,000 women.

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Nearly 60% of these women are killed by intimate partners.

This is significantly higher than the global average.

Women in the Eastern Cape are twice as likely to be murdered than the national average.

Research indicates that alcohol misuse significantly contributes to increased violence against women, including higher rates of femicide.

According to Ramsoomar, there has been no significant decline in femicide since 2009.

“We are concerned that we are not really moving forward in dealing with this.”

- Dr Leane Ramsoomar, SAMRC Researcher and Research Uptake Specialist

She notes that in many cases perpetrators are not brought to justice which results in there being no legal deterrent. 

She stresses the need for a thorough, society-wide approach to reduce the rates of femicide and gender-based violence.

This includes educating and socialising young children, particularly young boys, to respect others and learn how to manage their emotions in a non-violent manner.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.