South African Women Need to Claim Their Civil Liberties
blurb:isstoday:21042008taxiwomen
The sexual harassment of women at taxi ranks in South Africa has brought to the public’s attention persistent male chauvinism that is a factor in the continued high levels of gender-based violence in the South African society. How do we begin to make sense of this trend that is undermining the plethora of gender sensitive legislation, policies and practices embedded in our constitution?
Nwabisa Ngcukana, 25, recently made news headlines when she reported a case of sexual harassment at the hands of taxi drivers and hawkers at the Noord Street taxi rank in Johannesburg on 17 February. In less than a week this was followed by another case of two women at a taxi rank in Limpopo who were similarly victimized - this on International Women’s Day. Weeks of media reports followed in which different sectors of the society condemned the sexist acts.
In an apparent response to these attacks, a raid was conducted at the Noord Street taxi rank by a combined team of the Metro Police and SAPS where about 500 people were arrested for various crimes such as the possession of drugs and unlicensed firearms. A few illegal immigrants were also arrested - none of who were the men responsible for Ngcukana’s ordeal. On 21 February the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) publicly apologized to Ngcukana and promised to ensure that no other woman would suffer the same indignity. On the same day the association was scheduled to meet with Gauteng safety MEC Firoz Cachalia, gender rights groups, and policing authorities. Yet on 31 March a taxi driver and passenger on a taxi from Noord taxi rank to Hilbrow allegedly beat up Precious Tshishonga, a woman passenger, for enquiring about the contents of her change. Again calls have been made for the closure of the rank but nothing has come of it.
Ordinary commuters at these taxi ranks have informed us through the media that this is not a new trend. Some women even revealed self-censorship in their choice of clothes when preparing to use our public transport. Similar trends were evidenced on a television program screened on ETV, where women in some villages in KwaZulu Natal indicate that they are not allowed to wear pants.
The day-to-day harassment and violence that women are exposed to affects their future physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing in this country. Are we doing sufficient to produce the empowered women we need to build this country? Although the government has publicly condemned these acts, it is clear more focused attention on this matter is required. Rhetorical responses with regard to women’s rights do not begin to deal with the necessary social change that is urgently required in this country. It has become self-evident that it is much easier to attend to legal frameworks than it is to change mind-sets. In this context, the much-touted freedom of women has essentially been limited.
The starting point is to embark on mass-based education to ensure that women, men and children understand their rights and responsibilities in the society. An enabling environment then has to be created for women to lay claim to their rights without fear of family or community retribution. We know too that often those who are assigned to protect us from abuse are guilty of the same sexist tendencies. Central to a new approach by government then is to transform the state protection structures so that they have the capacity and the necessary predisposition to deal with an ever-increasing crisis of gender based violence.
We need not re-invent everything, but need to maximize the implementation of the instruments that already exist. Government needs to lead by example and be seen to be taking a tough stance on sexual harassment and gender based violence. Men and women need to engage in dialogue to understand where the propensity for this violence stems from. If we do not deal with these issues immediately and comprehensively, we run the risk of backsliding on the exercise of the rights that were so hard fought for. We owe it to the next generation to be more on guard when it comes to women’s rights.
Siphokazi Magadla, Intern, Security Sector Governance Programme, ISS Tshwane (Pretoria)
