Most South Africans want rapists' names published‚ study finds

As South Africans prepare to celebrate Women’s Day on Tuesday‚ sexual violence is still at the centre of challenges facing women‚ a study reveals.

And the silent protest by four young women during President Jacob Zuma’s speech at the local government elections results operations centre in Pretoria on Saturday‚ according to the study‚ has brought the issue of sexual violence against women into sharp focus

The women‚ dressed in black‚ stood silently in front of the stage carrying placards as Zuma spoke. They held placards referencing Zuma’s rape accuser‚ Khwezi.

The latest Pulse of the People study undertaken by Ipsos in June and July 2016 shows that over 70% South Africans‚ both male and female and of all ages‚ agree that the names of rapists should be published in a register open to the public.

This‚ says Ipsos‚ affirms the public’s strong opposition to sexual violence.

The study was done through 3 861 personal face-to-face interviews conducted with “randomly selected” adult South Africans. The interviews were done in the homes and home languages of respondents.

Those polled were also asked how well the government was handling violence against women and children.

“Only about four in every ten (38%) adults say that the government is handling this issue ‘very well’ or ‘fairly well’‚” Ipsos said.

“In 2015 this proportion stood at 44% — thus satisfaction with the situation is on the decline. Again‚ as in the past‚ there is not much of a difference between the views of women (37% say the government is handling this issue well) and men (40%).

“This year only 14% (women and men) are of the opinion that the government is handling violence against women and children ‘very well’.”

According to the study‚ almost a third (30%) of South African adults believe that a woman’s place is in the house. This percentage is up from 24% in 2015.

“It is clear that we are very far from achieving the equality specified in our Constitution. Men (34%) feel stronger about this than women (27%).

“However‚ it is not necessarily older people (like one would conventionally believe) who feel the strongest about this‚ but rather those in the 35-49 age group where 32% agreed with the statement‚” says Ipsos.