​Thembisa Shologu
Statistics have revealed a grim picture in relation to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa. 
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and the Human Science and Research Council (HSRC) have both reported concerning statistics that one in three women aged 16 years and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has been sexually abused. 
Speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Minister for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga said these staggering results indeed confirmed that the country had a serious Gender Based Violence (GBV) problem.
"This launch happens after the release of the findings of a study which was conducted by the Human Science and Research Council (HSRC) on the prevalence of GBV in the country, which indeed confirmed that we have GBV in SA. Approximately 7.3 million women in South Africa have experienced physical abuse, while 2.1 million have experienced sexual violations. 
"The study reveals that many women who have experienced GBV in their lifetime experienced it from a previous lover or a current lover or a previous husband or a current husband and that is why it is not an easy one to deal with, this happens in houses, families and that is why we therefore have to say to husbands, please this can be stopped," said Minister Chikunga.
Chikunga added that the study also confirmed that 7.7% of women were abusing men.
Moreover, she said it was important to speak to boys about life especially coping with disappointments. 
"Whether it comes from a man or from a woman abuse should not happen, it should be stopped. 
Chikunga called men to refrain from thinking they own women. 
She added that government needed to do more in educating communities about GBV and to do more in enforcing the law.  
"Men do not own women, they do not own our earnings, they do not own our labour, they do not own anything about us. Men cannot take advantage of women because they are intoxicated, that is rape in terms of the law and such men must face the might of the law
"So, there is a lot that we need to do including heightening of education because in some areas 9.9% men in terms of the study said a woman who gets raped would have asked for it, she would have exposed herself to rape," Chikunga said. 
Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed concern following the research report saying that it was a painful reality. 
Premier Lesufi said government needed to work to strengthen its education aspects where required to avoid being in a similar situation. 
"We must be honest, we have been going through the crime stats today, it is shocking, it is painful, and reality is there are drugs that contribute and fuel the scourge, especially alcohol. 
"We must be honest with ourselves that do we want to be a nation that carries this shameless tag of being a country that does not respect its women and children. 
 "We must be honest and not be emotional about it that this drug one way or another the relationship we have with this drug needs a strategic review and we do not even have to hide behind it, but it is one area that we need to confront," said Lesufi. 
GBV survivor, Sixolile Mbalo who was raped, shot and left for dead in a pit toilet at the age of 14years. 
Mbalo said over time she made peace with what happened to her and went to see the perpetrator and forgave him. 
"By the grace of God, I survived, but I am still living with the bullet. After my experience I decided to become a motivator just to motivate others because some of the victims are dead, some committed suicide.
"I then went to see the perpetrator, to forgive him because I believe in the end, we have to forgive in order for us to move on. I was doing it for me so that I can be able to go out there and show others that it is not the end of the world," said Mbalo.
Mbalo is also an author of Dear Bullet, A letter to my shooter: where she speaks more about her story.