With outcries against brutal rape and the ill treatment of the
women across opposite ends the globe, it is interesting to note the parallels
between the high profile cases of Jyoti Singh Pandey and Anene Booysen.
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The Parallels between
Singh and Booysen – image edited by Naledi Sibisi
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As 2012 was
drawing to a close, the inhumane rape and murder of New Delhi resident Jyoti
Singh Pandey attracted media attention on a worldwide scale. Two months later,
South African teenager Anene Booysen stood in the same spotlight. Both females
were gang raped and disfigured after which their deaths shortly followed. It
was on their death beds that both requested that their stories addressed the
nature of violent attacks on women in their societies. This would be done by
prioritizing and raising public awareness to the need for safety as well as the
prosecution of attackers at the hands of the justice system.
Singh, the
23-year old physiotherapy student was repeatedly raped and beaten by a group of
6 men on a moving bus and left to die on the side of the road. She died over a
week later as a result of her injuries. Booysen, a 17-year old student was
discovered in a horrifying state after she had been gang raped and mutilated,
dying just hours later as a result of these wounds.
As the news
of Singh’s attack broke, India was pressured to take action regarding the
nature of rape in the country. According to an article by Rupee News with the
following headline,
“rape is a
notoriously under-reported crime, thanks to its social stigma and because the
culprits in most cases are known to the victim” – (Rupee News, 2012:1).
The same trend can be seen in the South
African context. Booysen identified one of her attackers as her ex-boyfriend,
Jonathan Davids – the culprit known to the victim. South Africa has similarly been
dubbed as The Rape Capital of the World, with
claims that there is a higher probability that women who are born in the
country will get raped as opposed to learning how to read (Rape Statistics - South Africa & Worldwide, 2011:1). It is this
astounding realization that leads one to question why the justice system
continues to be lenient with crime. Moreover, it has been noted that the issue
of under-reporting with regard to rape cases is of concern as very few cases
are reported thus fail to stand trial and offenders continue to roam the
streets (Nicholson, 2013:1). While the parallels in the cases of Singh and
Booysen are apparent, the way in which their countries responded seem to differ. President Jacob Zuma spoke out just days after the crime stating that the nation is heated as a result of Booysen’s story. A number of protests followed, including a University of Cape Town student march and ‘We Say Enough’ campaign which I happened to attend – where enraged students and staff members cried out in objection in relation to Booysen’s rape and murder. These responses appear to be short lived because it appears not much action has been taken in response to public outcries. Although South Africa is faced with a large and ever increasing number of rape cases, it seems as though law enforcement as well as the public have become somewhat desensitized to the crime. Heidi Swart of The Mail & Guardian, went as far as claiming that “water and electricity still take precedence over the safety of women and children” (2013:3); this a fair claim if we consider the response to Singh’s rape and murder in India.
While similar and numerous protests occurred in India, law enforcement has been vigilant in bringing the accused to trial. It is interesting to note that the Booysen case has been postponed whereas the Delhi gang rape case faces an on-going trial. Recently, it has been reported in international network Mirror News UK that women in India have begun to take self-defence measures by training in martial arts to break the cycle of rape culture.These lessons have proven to be successful as Indian women testify that since learning these skills they have been able to defend themselves against attackers. (Article below)
Looking at these high profile cases and considering the many rape instances around the world on a daily basis, it is safe to say that this is an issue that needs to be addressed now more than ever, especially when taking into account the callous type of violence inflicted upon women in relation to sexual assault. Furthermore, it should raise hopes that governmental bodies and law enforcement will take notable measures to protect women and children in such communities.
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