'Toxic masculinity' among drivers of GBV - deputy justice minister
Deputy Minister for Justice Constitutional Development John Jeffery says toxic masculinity and how boy children are educated are among the drivers of gender-based violence.
He says society needs to re-evaluate patriarchy.
Jeffery says many survivors also have to deal with how their trauma is treated by those close to them.
"Many women get abused by their partners and told by family members just to put up to it, he will come right later.
"So it is important to report domestic violence and it is important where you know of somebody who is being subjected to domestic violence because it can escalate and things can get worse."
He says resources are available for those who experience GBV.
"At the Thuthuzela care centres, you don't have to lay a charge to use those facilities. That was put there to encourage survivors of rape to come in and give a report.
"It is a serious problem in South Africa and it is not one that government can deal with alone because the perpetrators are the men in our society."
Jeffery will take part in a two-day event for 16 Days of Activism in Pietermaritzburg starting from Friday.
