South Africa: South Africa Needs More Than a Five-Point Plan to Prevent Violence

What the report says

An Institute for Security Studies analysis published by AllAfrica argues that South Africa’s response to violence, especially violence against women, needs to go beyond President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent five-point plan. The commentary says the plan, announced on 29 September, recognizes the need for prevention and better criminal justice responses, but does not explain how prevention will be funded or implemented.

The article links the issue to recent killings that drew public attention to gender-based violence and femicide, including the murder of Elizabeth Moselakgomo and reports that multiple women’s bodies were found in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over a period from mid-July to late September. The authors, Chandré Gould and David Bruce, write from Tshwane/Pretoria and argue that violence against women cannot be addressed in isolation.

Their central claim is that South Africa needs a broader prevention strategy that treats violence among boys and men, violence in homes, and violence in communities as connected problems. The analysis says harmful ideas about masculinity, exposure to violence in childhood, poor conflict skills, emotional distress and substance abuse all contribute to cycles of harm. It also notes that men account for the large majority of murder victims in South Africa, which the authors present as evidence that violence across society is linked.

The piece calls for coordinated, funded interventions that build non-violent norms, support caregivers, improve emotional regulation and add practical safety measures such as better lighting. In the authors’ view, a stronger prevention framework would help reduce violence against women while also addressing broader patterns of interpersonal violence.