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Oscar Pistorius case: South Africa is a country at war with its women Oscar Pistorius case: South Africa is a country at war with its women
(7 months later)
It is much too risky to speculate about what exactly happened when model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in the home of Oscar Pistorius. But the South African sports legend has been charged with murder, and has just been granted bail. In a troubling twist, the lead investigator, Hilton Botha, faces seven attempted murder charges after allegedly firing at a taxi. This raises the question: does South Africa need to interrogate masculinity and gun culture?It is much too risky to speculate about what exactly happened when model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in the home of Oscar Pistorius. But the South African sports legend has been charged with murder, and has just been granted bail. In a troubling twist, the lead investigator, Hilton Botha, faces seven attempted murder charges after allegedly firing at a taxi. This raises the question: does South Africa need to interrogate masculinity and gun culture?
As reports flooded South Africa's news sites over the last week, it seemed as if editors' sympathies lay more with Pistorius than Steenkamp as theories about an "accidental shooting" were quickly offered well before the facts were ascertained. In fact, the Commission for Gender Equality claimed that the many reports on the death of Reeva Steenkamp shifted attention from gender-based violence to Oscar Pistorius.As reports flooded South Africa's news sites over the last week, it seemed as if editors' sympathies lay more with Pistorius than Steenkamp as theories about an "accidental shooting" were quickly offered well before the facts were ascertained. In fact, the Commission for Gender Equality claimed that the many reports on the death of Reeva Steenkamp shifted attention from gender-based violence to Oscar Pistorius.
Regardless of the circumstances of the shooting, the fact is that yet another woman met a violent end in South Africa – a country at war with its female population. Earlier this month, Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen was gang-raped, murdered and mutilated – a case so appalling in its brutality that it made headlines across the globe. And as extreme as this case was, such violence is not isolated.Regardless of the circumstances of the shooting, the fact is that yet another woman met a violent end in South Africa – a country at war with its female population. Earlier this month, Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen was gang-raped, murdered and mutilated – a case so appalling in its brutality that it made headlines across the globe. And as extreme as this case was, such violence is not isolated.
In 1999, 14-year-old Valencia Farmer was gang-raped and murdered. At the time, we saw a great deal of media outrage at the incident – not unlike the response to the Booysen murder. But, between these two horrific events, we have seen many other instances of gender-based violence that expose the hollow nature of the righteous indignation expressed by public officials, political parties and journalists alike.In 1999, 14-year-old Valencia Farmer was gang-raped and murdered. At the time, we saw a great deal of media outrage at the incident – not unlike the response to the Booysen murder. But, between these two horrific events, we have seen many other instances of gender-based violence that expose the hollow nature of the righteous indignation expressed by public officials, political parties and journalists alike.
According to a 2011 survey by Statistics South Africa, 38.4% of sexual offences were committed by community members known to their victims. Furthermore, 37.2% of victims were murdered by known community members, followed by a spouse/lover (18.2%), and friends/acquaintances (12.1%). According to allAfrica.com, police statistics reveal that in South Africa seven women were murdered each day in 2011, and that one woman gets raped every 17 seconds.According to a 2011 survey by Statistics South Africa, 38.4% of sexual offences were committed by community members known to their victims. Furthermore, 37.2% of victims were murdered by known community members, followed by a spouse/lover (18.2%), and friends/acquaintances (12.1%). According to allAfrica.com, police statistics reveal that in South Africa seven women were murdered each day in 2011, and that one woman gets raped every 17 seconds.
What does this have to do with Steenkamp's death, you may ask, especially when the true facts are not yet known? The answer lies in how stereotypical views of masculinity get rewarded in South Africa. While the country's gun culture is by no means comparable to that of the US, paranoia about violent crime in a post-apartheid era has extended the laager mentality that emerged during the rule of the National party. (The term refers to the defensive circle created by the wagons of colonial-era settlers, effectively creating a mobile fort against attacks by indigenous Africans. Settlers would hide inside these wagon forts with their guns on the ready in the event of an attack.)What does this have to do with Steenkamp's death, you may ask, especially when the true facts are not yet known? The answer lies in how stereotypical views of masculinity get rewarded in South Africa. While the country's gun culture is by no means comparable to that of the US, paranoia about violent crime in a post-apartheid era has extended the laager mentality that emerged during the rule of the National party. (The term refers to the defensive circle created by the wagons of colonial-era settlers, effectively creating a mobile fort against attacks by indigenous Africans. Settlers would hide inside these wagon forts with their guns on the ready in the event of an attack.)
Under apartheid, white paranoia about being murdered by vengeful "natives" helped the National party to consolidate its political power, as well as to justify the conscription of white males to defend South Africa's borders against "communists" – shorthand for the African National Congress's military wing. Many white South African males were compulsorily drafted, and a large number of young soldiers fought in border wars with Angola and Mozambique. In addition, the patriarchal nature of apartheid ideology created hierarchies based on gender as well as race.Under apartheid, white paranoia about being murdered by vengeful "natives" helped the National party to consolidate its political power, as well as to justify the conscription of white males to defend South Africa's borders against "communists" – shorthand for the African National Congress's military wing. Many white South African males were compulsorily drafted, and a large number of young soldiers fought in border wars with Angola and Mozambique. In addition, the patriarchal nature of apartheid ideology created hierarchies based on gender as well as race.
Black citizens on the other hand experienced the structural violence of apartheid policies, and faced brutal repression in their struggle for civil rights. The landmark murders in Sharpeville and Soweto were the tip of the iceberg – the disappearance of activists and the torture of detainees became a feature of everyday life.Black citizens on the other hand experienced the structural violence of apartheid policies, and faced brutal repression in their struggle for civil rights. The landmark murders in Sharpeville and Soweto were the tip of the iceberg – the disappearance of activists and the torture of detainees became a feature of everyday life.
This experience of violence went beyond racial oppression, though. As feminist scholar Shireen Hassim's research on Jacob Zuma's rape trial suggests, the struggle for gender equality took a back seat to the fight against apartheid and, for this reason, women's rights remain fairly low on the national agenda in democratic South Africa. (Zuma was cleared of rape in 2006.)This experience of violence went beyond racial oppression, though. As feminist scholar Shireen Hassim's research on Jacob Zuma's rape trial suggests, the struggle for gender equality took a back seat to the fight against apartheid and, for this reason, women's rights remain fairly low on the national agenda in democratic South Africa. (Zuma was cleared of rape in 2006.)
Today, brutal police action in Marikana, Ficksburg and Hangberg resonates with apartheid-era state violence. More importantly, the evidence of the laager mentality's continuing siege can be seen in the emergence of gated communities and rightwing organisations' claims of a genocidal plot against white farmers. This is notwithstanding the black South Africans' experience of violent crime in the township, where the "corrective rape" of lesbians gives new meaning to the cynical term "paper rights" – constitutional rights that mean nothing in practice.Today, brutal police action in Marikana, Ficksburg and Hangberg resonates with apartheid-era state violence. More importantly, the evidence of the laager mentality's continuing siege can be seen in the emergence of gated communities and rightwing organisations' claims of a genocidal plot against white farmers. This is notwithstanding the black South Africans' experience of violent crime in the township, where the "corrective rape" of lesbians gives new meaning to the cynical term "paper rights" – constitutional rights that mean nothing in practice.
It has been reported that Pistorius was a keen marksman who did not hesitate to use his gun the moment his house alarm tripped – a characteristic indicative of the kind of paranoia that pervades middle-class South Africa. Pistorius lives on a golf estate, which exemplifies all the elements of "semigration" to gated communities and the laager mentality after apartheid. According to a 2007 report by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation 53% of homicides were linked to gun violence.It has been reported that Pistorius was a keen marksman who did not hesitate to use his gun the moment his house alarm tripped – a characteristic indicative of the kind of paranoia that pervades middle-class South Africa. Pistorius lives on a golf estate, which exemplifies all the elements of "semigration" to gated communities and the laager mentality after apartheid. According to a 2007 report by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation 53% of homicides were linked to gun violence.
Whether or not the shooting was accidental, it certainly adds to a troubling set of statistics.Whether or not the shooting was accidental, it certainly adds to a troubling set of statistics.
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