BONUS - RUSTENBURG - Ironically, as South Africa observes Freedom Month, the nation faces one of its most pressing challenges: continued violence against women, which can be described as a pandemic in itself.
As South Africa commemorates 30 years of democracy, it becomes increasingly crucial to address the systemic inequalities that continue to affect women's lives, as the country has one of the highest incidences of gender-based violence (GBV) globally, and statistics reveal that many women who survive GBV, fail to obtain justice for themselves.
This is because of lack of knowledge about legal recourse, limited understanding of their rights, entrenched shame and stigma, fear of secondary victimisation, distrust in the criminal justice system, and the daunting task of navigating complex court processes.