The impact of Covid-19 on domestic violence in South Africa

Abstract

COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown has had a negative impact on domestic violence in South Africa. It is known that pandemics increase violence against women. Some of the impacts that domestic violence has on family law is that a surge of domestic violence can lead to an increase in divorces; an increase in application for care and protection orders for children as well as removals of children from the home environment when it is in their best interests. This chapter explores this impact by examining the definitions of domestic violence and gender-based violence and the statistics available regarding domestic violence in South Africa. After that the provisions of the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and other measures taken by the South African government to assist victims of domestic violence are discussed. The chapter also briefly examines the role that patriarchy plays in driving domestic violence in South Africa. From this study, it emerges that violence against women in South Africa is linked to various factors including patriarchy, economic dependency and expected roles of women. Here it is seen that women need to be empowered and we need to actively change society’s beliefs surrounding the role of women. Additionally, there is an intersection between violence against women and violence against children. The conclusion is reached that the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown has exacerbated pre-existing problems in South African society that cause domestic violence and that legislation alone is not sufficient to solve the problem of domestic violence in South Africa. We also cannot rely on statistics alone and need to look at the lived experiences of women in South Africa.