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Scourge in intimidation of women in the workplace: Commission

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South Africa has seen a scourge in intimidation of women by their male counterparts in the workplace. This is based on the findings of a study conducted by the Commission of Gender Equality (CGE).

The commission, through the employment equity hearings and with engagement with both private and public sector discovered that intimidation and sexual harassment in the workplace is silent and is often not reported.

CGE Spokesperson Javu Baloyi says bullying and harassment have become very rampant at places of work.

“This is due to a lack of cohesive policies in the workplace and the patriarchal attitudes in society. The issue of power relations also plays a role where men like to exercise control over women.”

Baloyi says the root cause for this is how a boy child has been socialised – how society has normalised the culture of rape, molestation and how they are often not spoken about.

“We are not reprimanding the boy child enough and it’s a misogyny that exists in society that we have to change.”

He adds that they have started engaging government departments to see if these policies that are put in place do work.

“Through a Gender Based Violence programme in schools and through engaging the Ministry of Basic Education to have gender issues infused in the curriculum, this objective can be achieved. That is where it must begin, at a young age.”

Baloyi says the commission’s monitoring and evaluation tools have also proven to be effective and they are yielding the desirable results.

– By Nthabi Gwiji

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