The murder of journalist Ms Mongale has reignited outrage over gender-based violence.
The killing of journalist Ms Mongale has pushed South Africa back into serious conversation about the harsh reality many women face daily. Her murder comes years after she had reported on the tragic killing of Karabo Mokoena, a young woman burned to death by her boyfriend in 2017 — a story that had once shaken the country.
Now, with Mongale’s own life taken, South Africans are again asking how long women must live in fear.
Gender-Based Violence Still On The Rise
The statistics paint a grim picture. From January to March this year, 137 women were murdered while over 1,000 reported being raped, according to official crime data.
Back in 2020, research by the University of the Free State revealed that one woman was killed by her partner every eight hours on average. Even more alarming, a United Nations report in 2019 placed South Africa among the five worst countries for women being murdered.
Sexual violence also remains a major concern, with rape being the most reported crime against children, as highlighted by Stats SA.
South Africa continues to grapple with a cycle of abuse that claims countless victims — and with each new case, the call for justice grows louder.
