Yesterday, Tuesday 25th November 2014, marked the beginning of the 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children campaign. 
Since 1991 Sixteen Days of Activism has been used as a global organizing strategy by individuals, civil society and governments to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. Twenty – three years later we are tempted to despair over the prospects of losing the battle.
South Africa adopted the campaign in 1998 as one of the strategies towards creating a society free of violence.  Even though the campaign continues to raise awareness amongst South Africans, the statistics are frightening and qualify Gender Based Violence as a pandemic needing urgent attention.  50% of GBV experienced by women and children is concentrated in the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal.
Numsa condemns violence against women and children and says that unless we liberate women from their triple oppression and exploitation no-one will be free.  Dismantling the conservative patriarchal social fabric that is charectarised by impunity for perpetrators and re- victimization of women affected is only part of the solution, we need to fully understand the extent problem.  Numsa will not delink the abuse of women and children from the capitalist system which in South Africa is forcing the working class to bear the burden of unemployment, inequality and poverty.  This triple crises is tearing apart the social fabric of working class communities
At this point government’s lack of leadership and political will leaves us despondent since they seem more committed to diminishing and undoing the little progress we have made towards addressing the tragic realities of gender equality. We see this not only in widespread patriarchal rhetoric and the negligible spending on GBV  prevention and gender in National Action plans , but also in the dismal commitment to ensuring 50/50 in political decision – making .
After our South African national elections in May 2014, Government disbanded the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities and established a new Ministry of Women in the Presidency, what is disheartening is that during this transition the National Council against GBV was suspended meaning its crucial and urgent work being delayed until government decides which department will house it.
During the public meeting on the 16 Days of Activism launch hosted by the Ministry of Women, Minister Suzan Shabangu opened the session expressing her desire to focus on mobilizing men during the campaign because, “Men are supposed to be protectors of society, Men are supposed to be protectors of families “going on to say women cannot be victims any more.
The Ministry of Women in the office of the President has absolutely no understanding of the underlying systemic issues of patriarchy in a capitalist system so she believes the solution is to reinforce patriarchy.  She has absolutely no idea of the underlying causes of this violence in working class communities.
It is frustrating to hear this victim- blaming comments by the Ministry of Women. Adding insult to injury, other leaders present also suggested funding for Violence against Women support centers be cut and gender based violence be dealt with privately at home. All these statements are shocking not only because they come from leaders, but because they perpetuate a culture of silence and fuel the most predominant form of GBV – intimate partner violence, which generally takes place in the home.
How do governments plan on addressing the problem without realistic targets and effective indicators for measuring GBV? There is an urgent need to establish GBV baselines and tighten integrated, costed planning framework for ending GBV.
If we are not armed with this powerful knowledge, we cannot hold our leaders accountable, we cannot demand our rights and we remain hostage to the whims of politicians.
We want all Numsa members to hold discussions in their factories and communities on how we end the violence and we want Numsa members to have this discussion over 365 days and not only during 16 days of activism.
We want all Numsa members to hold discussions on the increasing violence against Gays & Lesbians and discuss how we stop this violence.
It is all of our responsibility to ensure that expose GBV wherever it takes place.  Let’s build strong organisations that fight in the interest of working class women and men.  It is only a socialist South Africa that will see an end to all forms of oppression and violence.
Numsa’s resolution to build a United Front and explore the Movement for Socialism provides an ideal platform to advance the agenda of gender equality and the emancipation of women, children and the most vulnerable in our society.
“Let’s challenge Militarism, End Gender Based Violence, and Empower Women “
Contact:
Busisiwe Tshabalala, National Gender Coordinator: 081 465 4589 / 011 689 1804