The SA government’s call for 16 days of activism for No Violence Against Women ends on 10 December. However, this does not mean that awareness of heinous crimes against women should end.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is so prolific in South Africa that following the 21 November protest by hundreds of women across the country, who raised one million petition signatures, the head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Dr. Bongani Elias Sithole, defined GBV as a national disaster.
The stats from various sources prove justification of this decision:
15 women are killed daily due to GBV.
40% of South African women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.
10,688 rape cases were reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) between January and March 2025.
The majority of alleged rape victims are between 17 and 30 years old.
The conviction rate of reported cases is low: between 4-8%.
More stats show, as per a recent report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women, that an estimated 50 000 women and girls (inclusive of South Africans) were killed by family members or intimate partners globally in 2024. The sad reality is that the highest number of these deaths, with 22,600 cases, is in Africa. “Women on the continent face the highest risk of femicide, with three women or girls killed by a family member or intimate partner per 100,000 female population,” comments Statista, an online market research and business intelligence portal.
These statistics are, sadly, not truly representative of the extent of the GBV problem, as many women choose to withdraw their charge due to systemic criminal justice and policing failures.
Why home ownership is a differentiator
The lack of owning independent land or property rights significantly reduces women’s bargaining power within relationships, which only serves to perpetuate cycles of poverty and violence. Those who are in violent relationships find their self-esteem and physical and mental health severely compromised, leaving them with few alternatives for escape. Increased homeownership among women can impact the reduction of GBV primarily by enhancing their economic independence and providing a crucial exit option from abusive relationships:
Women owning property reduces their dependence on male partners and strengthens their bargaining power within the household. This can deter potential abuse by making women less vulnerable and more capable of making independent life choices, including leaving a violent situation.
Secure housing offers an alternative for survivors of domestic violence, preventing homelessness or precarious living arrangements, which are major challenges for those trying to escape abuse.
Research shows the impact of ownership type is critical. For example, joint ownership may provide an improved balanced power dynamic, but on the flip side, sole female ownership can be perceived as a threat to the partner’s dominance, which can increase violent behaviour.
What is being done
It is unclear how much headway has been made following, in 2023, the then Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, calling for a policy review on joint home ownership to respond to, particularly, cases of GBV or divorce in relation to fully government-subsidised homes, also known as Breaking New Ground (BNG). BNG aims to eradicate informal settlements by providing fully built homes to qualifying beneficiaries through a subsidy system.
This is the status quo:
The current government policy on BNG houses stipulates that the government cannot grant a subsidy to the same person more than once. Many women are, therefore, disqualified from owning BNG properties, as their names have previously been added as housing beneficiaries alongside their partners. This is being reviewed to create a dispensation that allows women fleeing unsafe and abusive households to access safe, permanent housing in their own name, thereby removing a significant barrier to escaping violence.
The "Help Me Buy A Home" (aka FLISP) programme has been revised, which potentially allows more households (primarily women) with incomes up to R22,000/month to access assistance, thus expanding housing options beyond just BNG houses.
Through the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, numerous state properties have been identified as GBV shelters, working towards a goal of having a functional shelter in every district across the country.
Good news
There is some good news in that women are increasingly realising independence through property ownership. Female buyers are driving South Africa’s property market, according to Absa’s latest Homeowners Sentiment Index, which shows women make up more than half of all first-time homebuyer applications in 2025. “This underscores growing confidence and independence among single women entering the housing market. It’s especially positive to see more women stepping into homeownership for the first time. It shows that the market is not only recovering but also diversifying in meaningful ways,” said Tshepo Mashashane, Head of Strategic Positioning and Partnerships at Absa Home Loans.
Help
While increased homeownership is a powerful tool for women's empowerment and a potential deterrent to GBV, many women still remain trapped in GBV relationships. If you or anyone you know needs guidance or assistance, reach out to:
The Gender Based Violence National Command Centre: 0800 428 428 or use the Please Call Me free facility on 1207867#.
The TEARS Foundation: 08000 TEARS / 08000 83277 or email info@tears.co.za
The United Nations Refugee Agency for GBV violence: 0800 150 150
STOP Gender Violence Helpline: 0800 150 150.
