Prosecutors here in South Africa have dropped murder charges against a woman accused of killing her daughter’s rapist, saying the chances of a successful prosecution were slim.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape incidents in the world, more than 40,000 cases were reported in the last year’s figures.
In a majority of the attacks, the victims and the perpetrators are known to each other – which sometimes leads to cases being dropped because of intimidation, the authorities say.
A number of campaigns have been held in the country in recent months, some led by men, calling for harsher sentences for rapists.
Campaigners have also called for the government to do more to help women feel safe.
But women’s rights activists have decried slogans advising women to “stay safe”, saying it almost absolves attackers and places the responsibility of not being rape squarely on women.
Others say not enough is being done to address the heart of rape culture.
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