Abused South African women log on for online lifeline

JOHANNESBURG: Sabrina Walter receives between 50 to 150 messages daily on her social media channels from South African women who need help. These women have survived abuse, but are struggling to seek justice, find safety, and get back on their feet. With limited support in real life, these women have turned to the virtual world for help.

Walter is the founder of Women For Change (WFC), a non-profit organization. Since its establishment in 2016, WFC has grown from having a few hundred followers to reaching over 10 million people monthly across its Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram pages in 2023.

There is a clear need for support in South Africa, where violence against women is widespread and impunity for perpetrators is common, women’s rights experts say.

Amanda Gouws, a professor of political science at the University of Stellenbosch, explained that re-victimisation by the police and a two-year backlog of forensic DNA analysis exacerbate the wait for justice for victims.

WFC focuses on educating, advocating, and campaigning on gender-based violence (GBV), femicide, human rights, and gender equality.

“I think (violence against women) is an ongoing war; it’s a pandemic,” said Walter.

WFC also helps victims and their families access social and legal assistance, as well as connecting people with counselors and other experts.

Walter has built up a database of vetted lawyers, investigators, partner organizations, and social workers to assist those in need.

WFC has mobilized thousands of people to fundraise, and hundreds of women have received legal and social support through the online community.

WFC is not the only charity seeing a surge in demand for its online support. Over the past decade, half a dozen social media pages across various platforms have seen their monthly audience grow to number in the millions, according to women’s rights advocates.

Lusyomo-Namakau Simatele, a social justice educator who helps run Girls Against Oppression (GAO), another online platform with more than 100,000 followers, stated that the online support was filling a real-world gap.

People are reaching out for help, and sometimes the online community is their only option. By using social media as a connector between individuals and resources, organizations like GAO are helping bridge the gaps in the system.

Endemic problem

Violence against women is a prevalent and brutal issue in South Africa, a country with a history of wider violence and profound inequality.

According to the Africa Health Organization (AHO), about 2,700 women were murdered in South Africa in 2019/20, meaning a woman was murdered every three hours. The country also has one of the highest rape statistics globally, with nearly 42,000 reported cases in 2021/22.

However, social justice activists suspect that these figures could be lower than reality, as many women do not report cases due to fear of dismissal of their allegations and potential repercussions from the accused.

Despite progressive legislation, South Africa’s violent past and high levels of poverty and inequality may explain the prevalence of violence against women, although it is difficult to pinpoint exact reasons, according to Gouws from Stellenbosch.

Nyasha Karimakwenda, a gender equity consultant, noted that changing mindsets and improving policing are essential for addressing gender-based violence (GBV).

Without more formal interventions, online activists are filling the gap and creating awareness about violence against women.

“I should not have to do Instagram threads to inform men that it’s not OK to kill women, but I do it consistently,” said Simatele.

Digital divide

While digital support provides accessibility and a central space for survivors to get information, it is not a perfect solution. Director Bernadine Bachar mentioned that not all abuse survivors have online access, and individually tailored assistance may not always be possible through online channels.

Walter faces challenges with social media platforms mistakenly blocking her exposure of abuse. She aims to create a free platform to engage safely with survivors but is currently seeking funding to realize this goal.

Bachar emphasized the need for a collaborative approach between social media pages, shelters, counselors, and legal assistance to effectively curb gender-based violence.

Until institutional gaps are filled, activists like Simatele will continue the fight online.

“It’s exhausting, it’s triggering, it’s heartbreaking, it’s angering,” she said. “But it has to be done.” – Thomson Reuters Foundation