Rethinking Safety: The Urgent Need to Address Male Violence Against Women

In the wake of a series of brutal murders in Kempton Park, South Africa, public discourse is once again shifting to the tragic reality that women face daily: the threat of violence. The latest victim, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, was found dead after going for a routine afternoon run, highlighting a disturbing pattern of gender-based violence that raises serious questions about societal responses.

Five women have been discovered in similar circumstances over the past two months, all found in a state of disarray, underscoring just how pervasive this issue has become. Yet, rather than addressing the root cause, authorities have directed their warnings at women, suggesting they exercise more caution—an approach that many find both absurd and frustrating. As Cassandra Gudlhuza, author of *Unfathered*, articulates, the focus should be on the men perpetrating these acts, not the women trying to navigate their lives.

Confronting the Misplaced Blame

Gudlhuza argues that advising women to be more cautious is akin to placing the burden of responsibility on the victims rather than the aggressors. "When people commit fraud, we don’t tell banks to hide their money better," she points out. This analogy reflects a wider societal failure to hold men accountable for their actions, suggesting that women must adapt their behaviors to avoid becoming targets.

The outrage expressed online by community members echoes this sentiment, with calls for authorities to take actionable steps rather than issuing hollow warnings. The systemic nature of this violence is not just about individual crimes; it reflects a culture that allows such behavior to persist unchecked.

Moving Toward Genuine Solutions

To truly combat this epidemic, Gudlhuza calls for a shift in focus towards identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting the perpetrators of violence against women. This includes empowering communities to report suspicious behavior and creating an environment where the burden of preventing violence lies with the potential offenders rather than the victims. The question should not only be about who commits these crimes, but also about why society continues to produce men who believe they can act without consequence.

As the investigation continues and the community grapples with this latest tragedy, it is imperative to challenge the narrative that women need to change their behavior. Instead, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: the real problem lies with the men who choose violence.

Source: www.dailymaverick.co.za