GBV Reporting Tool Gives Survivors Hope

Reports from gender activists indicate gender-based violence cases have increased dramatically since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions of movement. The majority of these cases, however, go unreported as survivors are often silenced and thus end up suffering in silence. Even though Mmutle suffered abuse before the pandemic, she says it has gotten worse in the last 12 months. She said she could not get help from the neighbours as they were also afraid of him. “I was afraid to leave or dial the 999 hotline because he threatened me. I felt vulnerable and lonely. I needed someone to talk to but I was afraid to be a laughing stock.

People talk so I do not want my (dirty) laundry to be aired in Mmanoko and I was also ashamed to share my pain with my family because they have always been against our relationship. I believe that anonymously talking to strangers about my problems would help me a lot,” she said. Masego Pule (not her real name) from Gakuto said she was stuck with her abusive boyfriend for a full week and could not escape his claws because he was always around her.