A worsening crisis: community reflections on violence against women during COVID-19 lockdowns

The COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, while necessary to curb the spread of the virus, also led to the increase in gender-based violence (GBV) in many countries, including South Africa. Despite numerous studies on GBV, the voices of local community members, as key informants with situated knowledge, have largely been excluded. This study therefore explored community members' accounts of GBV during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Participants included men and women from an informal settlement in Johannesburg South. Three focus group discussions, each consisting of 12-13 participants, were undertaken to collect the data. The study used structural violence theory as well as Ubuntu feminism as a framing tool. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings point to increased intra-familial violence, a deepening culture of silence around violence, escalating neglect within health and protection services, and the stifling of community activism. Participants also recounted feelings of helplessness in their efforts to mitigate GBV, alongside expressions of solidarity with survivors. Overall, the findings suggest that the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions unintentionally magnified existing drivers of GBV. We argue that future crisis responses -whether public health, social, or economic - must integrate violence prevention and protection mechanisms, ensuring that measures intended to safeguard populations do not simultaneously intensify gendered harm.