Intimate partner violence the primary driver of femicide: GBV expert

In 2020/21 intimate partners were responsible for 60.1% of femicides in South Africa, this is according to a 2025 study published by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Gender-based violence (GBV) expert Dr Nadia Bernon says the rising cases of GBV have led government to officially declare GBV and femicide as a national disaster in November last year.
Bernon says the numbers remain high especially in intimate partner violence as it is the primary driver of femicide.

The percentage of femicides involving intimate partners between 2017 (56%) and 2021 (60.1%). Graphic by Sibusiso Biyela
Bernon says government should intensify support for vulnerable groups which include women with disabilities and the deaf, saying that they are four times more likely to experience intimate partner violence.
“These vulnerable groups are always targeted in intimate partner violence,” Bernon says.
She explains that unemployment forms part of the inequalities that allow intimate partner violence to escalate to fatal outcomes.
PODCAST| Intimate partner violence and femicide in SA: Dr Nadia Bernon weighs in

Bernon has urged government to look at offering women economic power and financial independence, explaining that this can be seen as a key prevention strategy to allow them to leave abusive relationships and partners.
“Most women stay because they are financially dependent. Why would they leave their homes to go stay in a shelter that is underfunded by government? So, government needs to create job opportunities for women if they can’t fund shelters properly,” adds Bernon.
Bernon also concludes that when it comes to GBV and femicide, the situation is not getting better, adding that the numbers are escalating due to the gaps within the justice system and court processes that are failing to protect survivors.

In 2020/21 three women a day were killed by an intimate partner in South Africa. Graphic by Sibusiso Biyela
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/intimate-partner-violence-the-primary-driver-of-femicide-gbv-expert/