City of Tshwane named safest metro in South Africa
The City of Tshwane has been named the best metro in South Africa.
City of Tshwane has been named the safest metropolitan city in South Africa, according to the 2024 State of Urban Safety in SA report.
The study, verified police statistics and data from Statistics South Africa (SSA), places Tshwane at the top of the national safety rankings — a significant shift for a city that once grappled with some of the highest crime rates in the nation.
The city welcomed this recognition, with residents of Tshwane praising the coalition for making progress in addressing the issues of service delivery and lawlessness.
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IOL News
23-05-2025
- IOL News
Why now is the time to strengthen the role of the Commissioner for Children
Benedicta van Minnen Benedicta van Minnen Image: Supplied. Benedicta Van Minnen South Africa continues to grapple with alarmingly high levels of both structural and direct violence against its most vulnerable population – children. While violence is difficult to quantify, recent data paints a deeply troubling picture. According to Statistics South Africa, between 2013 and 2023, attempted murder of children nearly doubled, kidnapping increased fourfold, and reported cases of child abuse rose significantly. These figures underscore the need for stronger, more effective interventions. One such intervention is the role of the Commissioner for Children in the Western Cape – a legislative institution with the potential to serve as a vital safeguard for children's rights. A critical opportunity With a new commissioner anticipated to take office on 1 June 2025, we are presented with a critical opportunity to reassess and strengthen the mandate of this role. The selected candidate must be genuinely capable of driving change and raising awareness in communities about the issues faced by this vulnerable group. This includes not only the governmental and legislative spheres but also the social space. The days when children were expected to be "seen and not heard' are long gone. They are recognised as bearers of unique rights, often receiving special protections not always extended to adults. Yet, despite this recognition, these rights are frequently under-realised, leaving many children without the full protection and opportunities they deserve. Unfortunately, and all too often, it is their closest acquaintances who let them down the most – with the Joshlin Smith case being the latest and most unfortunate example. It is also far too common that children have only the government's safety net, which is not nearly sufficient to help them survive, let alone flourish. It takes a village Children do not live in government offices but with their families, embedded in communities and wider society. It is within this space that the Commissioner for Children can promote the understanding that it takes a village to raise and safeguard a child, working in partnership with government and civil society. So, what more can we do when there are already specific and comprehensive laws and guidelines to protect rights? The Western Cape Commissioner for Children, established in 2020 under the Children's Commissioner Act, has made significant early progress under the leadership of its first Commissioner, Christina Nomdo. Notable achievements include advancements in institutional development and advocacy, as well as pioneering efforts in child-led participation, particularly through direct consultations with youth. The office has strongly promoted the idea of children as active citizens rather than passive recipients of services. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Uncharted territory It must be borne in mind that this was uncharted territory for the first Commissioner for Children on the African continent – as well as for children and governments alike. Subsequently, the impact may have been limited, and critical factors for success need to be reconsidered. Going forward, we must focus on developing legislative clarity; ensuring the office has the legal power to access data, make recommendations, and summon officials; managing resources effectively to build a multidisciplinary team (law, social work, research, education); and promoting transparency and public trust. The role should also include regular public briefings, community-based monitoring, and visible action on children's concerns. The Commissioner for Children is a legally recognised institution, and it is their role to remain independent. The new Commissioner in the Western Cape should build on the mandate of the existing office to promote, protect, and monitor the rights of children, while moving towards a stronger emphasis on impact, accountability, and public visibility. Advisory role Currently, under the legislation, the Commissioner has only an advisory role with no power to enforce recommendations. Consideration should therefore be given to amending the legislation to refine the mandate of the Commissioner, create an effective complaints mechanism, and establish outcome indicators to measure change and ensure accountability. Looking ahead, we should aim to build and develop a vigorous and dynamic office of the Commissioner for Children, further refine its role, and ensure that measures are in place to guarantee the effective functioning of the role in driving real progress and change. Even if the Commissioner's role is somewhat limited, by working together and leveraging the institution, we can still make a meaningful difference, starting in the Western Cape. Our interventions must evolve alongside emerging challenges and opportunities, particularly in the areas of safety, educational equity, and well-being. This approach keeps us aligned with current needs and enables us to act when public awareness reaches a critical point, as change cannot be driven in isolation. The time to act is now. *Van Minnen, is MPP DA- Western Cape Spokesperson and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Premier & Constitutional Matters. Weekend Argus
IOL News
20-05-2025
- IOL News
Experts discuss the fight against gender-based violence in South Africa
South Africa has very high rates of GBV, with Statistics South Africa, in its report, indicating that one in three women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has faced sexual abuse. Image: Supplied South Africans' conservative and deeply patriarchal attitudes to gender, lack of funding, failing justice system, bureaucracy and corruption, weak law enforcement, and neglect of prevention interventions are some of the major factors putting the country on the backfoot in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), according to experts. South Africa has very high rates of GBV. Statistics South Africa, in its report, indicated that one in three women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has faced sexual abuse. The Human Sciences Research Council report revealed that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime. Fatima Shaik, the executive director of a non-governmental organisation, People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), said ending GBV requires more than laws; it demands effective enforcement, survivor-centred services, accountability, and genuine political commitment for systemic change. Shaik raised a concern that most interventions are reactive, like shelters and legal aid, with little investment in long-term prevention, such as education, gender norms transformation, and male engagement. 'Engaging men and boys is not only necessary, it is critical to the long-term eradication of GBV and the advancement of gender equality in South Africa. GBV is rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and power imbalances, and unless these are confronted and dismantled within male socialisation, true progress remains elusive. At POWA, we have seen that the most effective strategies go beyond awareness raising; they focus on transforming mindsets, reshaping social norms, and empowering men to actively challenge violence, inequality, and harmful masculinities in their own lives and communities,' she said. She also highlighted stigma and silence, where cultural norms and patriarchal pressures discourage victims from speaking out, often blaming them or urging reconciliation with abusers, which suppresses help-seeking. Shaik said reaching and assisting victims of GBV in underserved and rural communities across South Africa presents a complex set of challenges, deeply rooted in the country's socio-economic disparities, institutional weaknesses, and historical inequities. Among the key challenges, she mentioned poor infrastructure and isolation, language and cultural barriers, digital exclusion, distrust in institutions, poverty and economic dependency, corruption, and mismanagement of funds meant for victims. 'Sustainable solutions must prioritise rural infrastructure, culturally competent services, interdepartmental coordination, and grassroots partnerships to make GBV support accessible and effective nationwide,' Shaik said. Despite notable efforts including the development of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF), there remain persistent, deeply rooted challenges in the implementation and impact of GBV prevention and response strategies, she said. The core limitations, she said, are fragmented efforts where there is a lack of coordination among government departments, NGOs, and service providers that leads to duplication in some areas and severe gaps in others, disrupting survivor care. Underfunded services, weak law enforcement, bureaucracy, and corruption were also flagged. 'The crisis lies not in a lack of policy, but in poor execution, inadequate funding, and failure to prioritise survivors. South Africa must adopt bolder, community-centred, and survivor-led approaches to transform the GBV prevention and response landscape. While policy frameworks exist, innovation and effective localisation remain key to real change,' Shaik said. Professor Corné Davis-Buitendag, a research expert on gender-based violence at the University of Johannesburg, said South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world. She added that despite multiple interventions over the past few decades, the ideology of patriarchy still exists, which, coupled with the unemployment rate, reported at 32.9%, presents significant socio-economic challenges, such as a lack of resources to address GBV. 'In reference to inequality, the known facts are that a) women and children are the victims in most cases of GBV, and b) women remain in abusive relationships mostly because of their financial dependence on perpetrators. Another behavioural factor is that children who witness or experience GBV during childhood are more likely to become victims or perpetrators in adulthood. 'The most prevalent form of GBV is intimate partner violence, which means that it happens in the home, where perpetrators are known to the victims in most cases. Family or community members who witness or are aware of the abuse do not report it to authorities for various reasons, including fear, shame, and a sense of helplessness,' Davis-Buitendag said. She added that it is a general misconception that GBV occurs predominantly in poor communities. 'This is not the case. The reality is that the lower income group in South Africa is so much bigger than the affluent group, and hence the higher prevalence of GBV in poorer communities,' she said. Besides entitlement and misogyny, perpetrators of violence against children, including child rape, have little or no conscience about their behaviour. The rapid growth in online child pornography and child sex trafficking further propels ignorance and even support for the perpetration of violence against children. Many studies have shown how alcohol and substance abuse play a big role in GBV perpetration in South Africa, Davis-Buitendag said. She warned that even though there are currently many interventions on record and multiple government and non-government organisations at work, there is little evidence to suggest that the statistics are changing. In fact, they seem to be increasing. 'The biggest problem has always been a lack of funding. As the Commission for Gender Equality reported, little progress has been made since the establishment of the National Strategic Plan and the Gender-based Violence and Femicide fund. Many reports and strategies have been suggested and published, but funding remains an issue. 'The National Shelter Movement of South Africa is running on a shoestring budget, so places of safety for GBV victims are scarce. The strength of the current effort lies in community awareness, including more involvement of the private sector. The greatest limitation is the stigma and shame that still envelops GBV and the lack of funding to implement programs that show results. This can only be improved if GBV is spoken about more, so that victims can seek help without fear of the consequences,' Davis-Buitendag said. Christi Kruger, acting director at the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender at the University of Pretoria, said there is a need for a holistic approach that works with all people from a young age. 'Traditionally, South Africans tend to be silent about GBV and shy away, especially when it might be seen to be linked to sex and sexualities. Urgent conversations are needed to speak to everyday understandings of masculinities and femininities, and how everyone contributes to a society that enables violence in its various forms. 'Studies indicate that men who abuse alcohol are significantly more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV). One study by the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) shows that alcohol use by men is associated with increased frequency and severity of physical and sexual violence against women. Some studies show that alcohol was involved in approximately 65% of cases of intimate partner femicide in South Africa,' Kruger said. [email protected]
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
SSA now watching private airstrips
Government is conducting security assessments at aerodromes and private airstrips as some of them are suspected of being used for illicit activities such as arms, drugs and human trafficking. This is according to Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the presidency responsible for the affairs of the State Security Agency (SSA), who was responding to oral questions in parliament on Wednesday with other ministers in the peace and security cluster. Ntshavheni told MPs that since the beginning of the 2025/2026 financial year in April, multidisciplinary law enforcement agencies, led by the SSA, had private airstrips on their radar as part of government's strategy to tackle serious and organised crime. 'In pursuit of our mandate as SSA and in support of the department of transport we conduct continuous airport security risk assessments and this covers all public airports and private airports. 'This work has been extended from this financial year to cover aerodromes or small airports or airfields, so we can cover our mandate to deal with the concerns raised by the member,' she said. Ntshavheni was responding to a question submitted by MP Mzwanele Manyi, chief whip of the official opposition in the National Assembly, the MK Party. Manyi wanted to know what measures, since 2018, the SSA had put in place to probe and respond to the proliferation of private airstrips, which he said were suspected of aiding 'cross-border illicit activities'. He also asked Ntshavheni to explain how many 'unregistered or lightly regulated' airstrips the SSA was aware of. 'If these suspicious [airstrips] are being kept under surveillance then how do you explain the ongoing smuggling of drugs, human trafficking, proliferation of firearms and ammunition, endangered wildlife and foreign currency through these strips? 'All without a single interception detected by the SSA. Could it be that the infamous Phala Phala dollars also entered through these routes, in these airstrips, given that Sars customs through all official airports have no records of these transactions? Are we to conclude, minister, that your agency has failed to detect these threats or elements of the state are complicit?' Ntshavheni did not fall for the Phala Phala trap with her terse reply to Manyi's follow-up question. 'As we have indicated, we've extended the security risk assessment to aerodromes to deal with that concern. However, monitoring the airspaces which the member is referring to [is the responsibility of] the SANDF, [via] the air force.' DA MP Diane Kohler-Barnard, who has extensive experience as a legislator in the security cluster, indicated there were at least 400 public and private airports, airstrips and landing strips. 'On the whole they cater to local communities, private businesspeople and aviation enthusiast. There are among those airstrips [those] that are used under the radar to drop off drugs, move kidnap victims or live animals. 'However, most of these strips are used legitimately for tourists to get to game farms, for medical transport, so is the SSA, hopefully, working in tandem with crime intelligence, targeting those strips used for criminal activity while clearing those who aren't? 'I fear the SSA will do what they do tend to do, which is block any use by anyone in case there's some criminal use, is that the case and if not, what is the risk level?' she asked. The minister replied saying it was not the responsibility of the SSA to decide who could or could not operate a private airstrip. Their job was to conduct security assessments on behalf of the licensing authorities.
