South Africa, May 18 -- Gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa has been a widespread problem, which disproportionately affects women and girls. It is seemingly systemic and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures and traditions in South Africa.

Since the national lockdown period began, the national government's gender-based violence and femicide command centre, recorded that more than 120,000* victims rang the national helpline for abused women and children in the first three weeks after the lockdown started - double the usual volume of calls."

Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom, sent out a statement imploring the male population;

"Violence against women and children can only stop if we as men take responsibility for our own actio...