Why Gender-Based Violence Persists Across Southern Africa Despite Laws and National Policies

A series of recent killings targeting young women in South Africa has renewed scrutiny over regional efforts to combat gender-based violence, prompting activists and officials to warn that legal frameworks alone are not enough to protect women without effective implementation.

On a recent Thursday, police in South Africa discovered the partially naked body of 38-year-old Dineo M. in Ekurhuleni, a municipality on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Authorities reported that she had been beaten and stabbed to death. Her death marks one of a series of similar killings involving women in their 20s and 30s across Ekurhuleni over a two-month period.

For the victim's family, the tragedy extends far beyond national statistics. In 2025, South Africa officially declared gender-based violence a national disaster. Reflecting on the loss, Dineo's sister, Carol, shared her grief in an interview with Deutsche Welle, noting that the victim's two-year-old child is left without a mother after a brutal attack that left the victim unrecognizable.

Authorities have stated that it remains unclear whether the recent Ekurhuleni killings are linked. However, police have identified similarities among the cases and issued an alert advising women in the area to take precautions. South African Police Minister Firoz Cachalia addressed the situation, stating that while there is no conclusive evidence linking the murders to a serial killer, investigators are keeping all possibilities open while inquiries continue.

The string of deaths has left local communities on edge and triggered fresh questions regarding the adequacy of existing protective measures. Speaking at a protest march in Johannesburg, South African Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga emphasized that violence against women frequently begins behind closed doors with verbal abuse, which can escalate into assault and murder.

Advocacy groups and civil society organizations argue that systemic shortcomings continue to undermine safety. Naledi Masipa, campaigns manager at Gender Links, an NGO promoting gender justice across Southern Africa, told Deutsche Welle that the challenge encompasses all of society. She stressed that having laws and policies does not automatically change day-to-day realities in households and communities, emphasizing that the entire support infrastructure—spanning reporting mechanisms, policing, health services, psychosocial support, and legal assistance—must function cohesively.

Amnesty International South Africa also highlighted structural gaps in how authorities categorize and respond to these crimes. Tegan Snyman, a research assistant for the international NGO, noted that femicide is not currently recognized as a distinct crime and is instead treated as standard murder. Pointing to the national crisis declaration, Snyman argued that authorities must direct greater resources and a stronger sense of urgency toward addressing the gendered nature of these killings.

The crisis is not confined to South Africa. Neighboring Botswana contends with similarly high rates of gender-based violence. Natasha Rampa, a permanent secretary in Botswana's Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, noted that roughly 37% of women in the country experience violence in their lifetimes. To counter this trend, Botswana and the United Nations launched a joint program in June centered on prevention, survivor-focused services, and institutional strengthening. Addressing parliament, Botswana's Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Lesego Chombo asserted that combating gender-based violence requires a united societal response extending well beyond government action.

Zambia faces similar persistent challenges despite existing laws and national programs aimed at curbing abuse. Anne Mbewe-Anamela, executive director of the Non-German-Governmental Coordinating Council, an umbrella organization championing gender equality in Zambia, emphasized that interventions must place survivors at the center. She explained that gender-based violence remains deeply entrenched in power dynamics, inequality, and social expectations. According to Mbewe-Anamela, strong laws fail to protect individuals if communities continue to view domestic violence as a private matter or a normal component of marriage, which forces survivors to remain silent and trapped.

For activists, families, and communities across Southern Africa, the overarching obstacle is bridging the gap between policy creation and practical protection, support, and justice. As families mourn relatives like Dineo, advocates emphasize that true progress will only be measured when ordinary citizens experience safety in their daily lives.