'It's not a punishment': Expert explains why chemical castration won't curb sexual violence

CapeTalk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King is joined by Professor Rachel Jewkes, South African Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy and founder member of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

The UK recently announced a plan to trial chemical castration in 20 prisons, a move that’s sparked renewed debate around whether hormone-suppressing drugs can help reduce sexual violence. 

The idea isn’t new to South Africa. 

Back in 2022, the ANC’s social transformation subcommittee floated it as a possible punishment for rapists.

But in a country dubbed one of the rape capitals of the world, could such an intervention make any real difference?

Jewkes says the idea is widely misunderstood. 

Chemical castration, she explains, involves administering a drug to a man to suppress his libido.

“...the aim is that it will lower his sex drive, leading to fewer sexual thoughts and leading to less offending.”

- Professor Rachel Jewkes, SA Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy 

However, Jewkes is quick to point out that the effect is temporary.

“...these injections only last a maximum of four to six months, and they have to be repeated...”

- Professor Rachel Jewkes, SA Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy 

More importantly, she argues that the root cause of most rape, isn’t sexual desire at all.

“...it's very unclear that you're going to solve your problem of rape by reducing sex drive. But the other thing is, you only give these medications to anyone who's been convicted. And the great majority of rapists in South Africa are never convicted. So the great majority of rape couldn't be impacted.”

- Professor Rachel Jewkes, SA Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy 

She adds that the idea of using chemical castration as punishment is fundamentally flawed.

"I think it's completely misconceived. I think that when that's put forward in that way, people are imagining that in some ways, this medication operates as a large pair of shears. It just isn't like that. All it does is reduce sex drive for four to six months. There isn't any way that that's a punishment."

- Professor Rachel Jewkes, SA Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy 

Jewkes also weighs in on the ethical side of the debate. 

While some argue that forced medication infringes on human rights, she points out that there are legal precedents, such as mental health laws, where treatment can be administered without consent.

Jewkes notes that it’s not unprecedented to require treatment without consent, comparing it to vaccination policies that protect broader public health. 

She stresses that any use of chemical castration in South Africa would have to be voluntary, and would likely apply only to a small group of men who recognise their paedophilic urges and actively seek help.

“...but that's not a big group.”

- Professor Rachel Jewkes, SA Medical Research Council: Executive Scientist for Research Strategy 

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