SA Faces “Hidden Crisis” as 1 in 3 Women Endure Intimate Partner Violence

South Africa is grappling with a deepening crisis of domestic and intimate partner violence, which continues to claim lives, damage communities, and reverse progress toward gender equality. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has sounded the alarm over what it calls a “hidden crisis” of abuse taking place behind closed doors, following the release of a sobering report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The 2024 HSRC report reveals that one in three women in South Africa has experienced physical violence from an intimate partner in her lifetime. This rate mirrors global trends reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), but the impact in South Africa is especially severe, given high levels of social inequality, unemployment, and inadequate support systems for survivors.

“These are not just numbers; they represent the lived realities of millions of women who endure suffering behind closed doors,” said department spokesperson Cassius Selala during a press briefing on Monday.

Vulnerable Groups Disproportionately Affected

The report highlights alarming disparities in victimization rates. Black African women and women with disabilities experience significantly higher levels of intimate partner violence. The intersecting effects of race, gender, poverty, and disability heighten exposure to violence and reduce access to justice and support.

Women in rural areas, older women over 60, and those identifying as LGBTQIA+ are also among the most affected, facing barriers to legal redress and often being silenced by stigma and social exclusion.

The First South African National Gender-Based Violence Study, released in late 2024, details the prevalence of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse across all nine provinces. It paints a chilling picture of coercive control, often hidden from view and poorly addressed by the legal and health care systems.

A Growing Crisis Despite Lower Crime Rates

While the South African Police Service (SAPS) recorded a general decline in violent crime in the second quarter of 2024, the same period saw a troubling increase in gender-based violence (GBV):

• 957 women were murdered

• 1,567 women survived attempted murders

• 14,366 women were victims of grievous bodily harm

• 10,191 rape cases were reported

These figures only reflect reported cases. Many more women remain trapped in silence, fearing retaliation, stigma, or disbelief.

“Intimate domestic violence is not limited to physical harm; it includes emotional, psychological, and financial abuse, which often escalate over time. Victims carry these scars long after the violence ends,” Selala emphasized.

Economic Impact and Erosion of Women’s Progress

The Department warns that the rise in intimate partner violence is undermining decades of progress in women’s rights and economic empowerment. Economic abuse — including controlling access to money, sabotaging employment, or forcibly taking earnings — is a key tactic used by abusers to maintain power and control.

Selala noted that domestic violence erodes women’s independence, reduces household income, and contributes to the cycle of poverty and dependence.

“The greatest achievements in women’s economic progress in recent decades are potentially being eroded by domestic violence,” he said.

HSRC Webinar: Addressing Structural Drivers of GBVF

To deepen the conversation, the HSRC recently hosted a high-level webinar titled: "Addressing poverty and inequality as drivers of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) perpetrated against vulnerable populations in South Africa."

The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and activists to discuss the links between poverty, inequality, and GBV, and to highlight the importance of economic empowerment interventions.

Key issues discussed included:

• The lack of livelihood opportunities for women in informal settlements and rural communities

• The vulnerability of women with disabilities and older women to abuse by caregivers or family members

• The need to include LGBTQIA+ voices in national GBV and femicide strategies

• The failure of social protection systems to offer timely, survivor-centered interventions

A Call to Action

The Department has reiterated its commitment to working with other state institutions and civil society to:

• Strengthen the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF

• Improve survivor support services, including shelter access, legal aid, and trauma care

• Expand public education and awareness campaigns

• Introduce more targeted economic empowerment programs for women, youth, and persons with disabilities

The Department emphasized that addressing GBV is not just a policing issue—it is a socioeconomic and human rights challenge that requires a whole-of-society approach.

As the crisis unfolds, one thing remains clear: South Africa cannot afford to turn a blind eye. The hidden nature of domestic and intimate partner violence demands vigilance, accountability, and bold leadership to dismantle systemic patterns of abuse and build a society where all women can live free from fear and harm.