Understanding femicide in South Africa: the study of non-intimate femicide in KwaMashu and Umlazi in Durban.

Abstract

Non-intimate femicide is a rapidly increasing pandemic both nationally and globally, and this crime has deprived many women of their fundamental human right to life. As a result, numerous countries have enacted legislation specifically designed to address the issue of non-intimate femicide. However, in South Africa, non-intimate femicide is not recognized as a separate crime category that requires specific attention, and statistics of this crime are generally lodged with those of murder. Due to a lack of knowledge of femicide among both individuals and scholars, there is limited understanding of the factors that contribute to non-intimate femicide. Moreover, historically the government implemented only a few preventive measures to address this phenomenon, but the wide-spread prevalence of femicide in South Africa, which is a criminal act during which women are targeted and killed by their intimate or non-intimate partners, has prompted the government and researchers to prioritize the issues of intimate and non-intimate femicide. This study was conducted in recognition of the fact that non-intimate femicide has been under studied, yet it is also a violation of human rights just like intimate partner femicide. The study was therefore conceptualised and executed to add broader knowledge to the femicide phenomenon, and this was accomplished by gaining more in-depth understanding of the causes and scope of non-intimate femicide. To ensure the successful attainment of the study's objectives, a qualitative research approach was employed to effectively examine authentic views on the phenomenon of non-intimate femicide and the factors that contribute to it. The study involved a purposive sampling of 28 participants, who were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The researcher employed thematic analysis to derive significance from the data. Participants from KwaMashu and Umlazi revealed that places such as taverns, hostels, and shacks in close proximity to the megacity in Umlazi are hotspots for non-intimate femicide. The study has found that the prevalence of non-intimate femicide in KwaMashu and Umlazi is mostly linked to toxic cultural beliefs, rape culture, socioeconomic deprivation, and various other factors. The participants have also disclosed that the government has made limited efforts in preventing non-intimate femicide. The absence of preventive measures for non-intimate femicide has prompted some participants to take action in implementing preventive measures for this type of violence. Key recommendations are that further action is necessary to protect women, and that it is imperative for government departments to collaborate in order to ensure women's safety.