Domestic violence in South Africa

[3]The South African Medical Council released a study in 1998 saying that out of the 1,394 men interviewed, 50% physically abused their female partners at their homes.

[9] In a study done by the World Health Organization, it was found that 60,000 women and children are victims of domestic violence in South Africa.

[6] It is hard to gather accurate statistical data in South Africa because domestic violence is rarely reported.

In the same study it was found that typically the women who do witness and feel the violence come from a rural childhood compared to those raised in an urban area.

[citation needed] In Limpopo, a team of researches traveled to rural villages to implement a three-part trial to test if intervention within relationships that had domestic violence and/ or HIV prevalence in the home.

The homes where the researchers just assisted with the proautogenerated1blems of domestic violence were able to reduce the prevalence by 55%, but did not effect those who had unprotected sexual intercourse with a non-spousal partner.

[15] The advocacy group Soul City broadcast a show on TV and radio in 1995 that highlighted the issues associated with domestic violence.

[14] In 1998, South Africa introduced the Domestic Violence Act to try and protect those who are being abused or might be forced into a situation that could become harmful in the future.

At the time, the biggest assistance to women came from the Protection Order that derives from the Domestic Violent Act.

[16] Other reforms that were created were to sentence mandatory minimal time for specific types of rape under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1997.

[18] The "Blade Runner", as he is known, shot 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp through the bathroom door of their home with a 9mm pistol he said he kept under his bed.

[19] Oscar Pistorius, who was 27 years old at the time of the shooting, stated that he believed it was an intruder in the bathroom, and not his girlfriend, after hearing the sound of the window being opened.

[21] In Taylor's statement, she described Pistorius always having his gun with him, even when visiting friends, and frequently waking up during the night in fear about potential intruders.