How far will our human nature allow us to go in the absence of rules and enforced laws?
World-renowned performance artist Marina Abramović rendered an iconic six-hour performance, “Rhythm Zero”, in Naples, Italy in 1974. She offered herself as a motionless object and allowed members of the audience to use a displayed item with which to do to her as they saw fit. The items ranged from a rose and a cup of water to barbed wire and a knife. And the art goals included exploring the limits of the human body and seeing how far the public would go in the face of complete freedom with no retribution. Suffice to say, the confines of that gallery might have been what saved Abramović’s life.
Granted, the experiment wasn’t about women’s safety. But, in Women’s Month in SA, this demonstration of the sobering risks of zero boundaries seemed a better alternative to highlight than to politely engage in generalities.
According to the first South African Gender-Based Violence Study in 2022, 35.5% (7 847 438) of South African women experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. And in a 20-year study of femicide, by the Gender & Health Unit of the South African Medical Research Council, SA has amongst the highest femicide rates globally. Yet the 2025 SAPS crime statistics report released in May excludes disaggregated data on crimes against women and children.
Turning to agriculture, a study by the Women on Farms Project (WFP) in the Western Cape found women working and living on farms to be the most marginalised groups of women. They also highlight the patriarchal context for female farm workers, which resonates nationwide. However, a steady rise in female farmers and agripreneurs in SA is introducing new socio-economics shifts. Could any of these – to varying degrees – be contributors to gender-based violence against female farm workers?
In die SA Vrugtejoernaal Feb/Mrt ’22 berig Hortgro oor die Fruit Workers’ Development Trust se werkswinkels rakende geslagsgebaseerde geweld. Die werkswinkels, gefasiliteer deur Procare, speel ‘n belangrike rol in opvoeding en bemagtiging. Hoewel die voorkoms van geslagsgebaseerde geweld onder plaaswerkers in die vrugtebedryf en die res van die landbousektor glad nie alomteenwoordig is nie, beteken ons steeds alle rolspelers in ons waardeketting landwyd wat sinvol bydra tot bewusmaking.
Like any scourge, curbing gender-based violence – in SA or anywhere in the world – demands clearly defined and effectively policed laws, as well as widespread vigilance.
And it starts with boldly talking about it.