Domestic and gender-based violence continues to be among the most urgent crises in South Africa, yet survivors are still being failed by the justice system. Many face secondary trauma when reporting cases at police stations, endure long court delays, or watch perpetrators evade justice.
Speaking to VOC News, feminist lawyer and activist Seehaam Samaai said that while South Africa has progressive laws, the real challenge lies in their enforcement.
“Although many people say that we have some of the best laws, the problem is in how they are implemented. Women are still being evicted by family members under outdated rules of homogeneity, where the male head of the household can demand a woman leave. These are still realities, 30 years later, and they remain a form of violence,” she explained.
Samaai further stressed that the justice system often mirrors the broader inequalities in society.
“Gender-based violence is not treated the same, and I would say not as seriously as other crimes,” she added.
VOC News
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