KEY POINTS
- A South African judge is pushing for stronger alcohol warnings to address GBV.
- Alcohol played a role in two recent femicide cases, prompting legal concern.
- Existing alcohol labels fail to highlight the link between alcohol and GBV.
A South African judge is urging the Minister of Health to introduce stronger warning labels on alcohol containers, highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and gender-based violence (GBV).
Judge Avinash Govindjee, presiding over the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape, voiced his concerns after sentencing two men who murdered their partners while intoxicated.
As part of his ruling, Govindjee instructed his registrar to forward copies of his judgments to the health minister. He emphasized the need for more explicit warnings on alcohol labels.
His call to action stems from the rising cases of GBV-related murders, where alcohol plays a central role.
Tragic cases highlight alcohol’s link to femicide
Judge Govindjee’s concern is rooted in real cases that unfolded in his courtroom. One involved Mthutuzeli Manyathi, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison for brutally attacking his partner twice.
The first attack occurred when he stabbed her multiple times with a broken brandy bottle while both were under the influence of alcohol. She survived, only to be killed six months later when he beat and strangled her after another alcohol-fueled dispute.
In a separate case, another man received a 24-year sentence for killing his wife while she was breastfeeding their child. He, too, had consumed alcohol before launching a fatal attack, accusing his wife of infidelity.
Judge Govindjee referenced studies showing South Africa has one of the highest rates of intimate femicide globally, with nearly three women killed daily by their partners.
He highlighted that alcohol frequently appears in domestic violence narratives. He also called for dedicated prevention strategies, including clearer warnings on alcohol packaging.
Current alcohol warning labels fall short
South African law mandates that alcohol labels include health warnings. However, Judge Govindjee pointed out that only one of the seven existing messages mentions alcohol’s link to violence.
This warning states, “Alcohol is a major cause of violence and crime,” but fails to specifically address GBV, intimate partner violence, or sexual offenses.
The judge criticized the fact that alcohol labels are only required to feature one of the seven messages. He mentioned that it occupies just one-eighth of the container label’s space. He called this “wholly inadequate” given the scale of violence linked to alcohol consumption.
“The failure to highlight the link between alcohol and gender-based violence seems to be a significant omission,” Govindjee stated. He stressed that in a country grappling with a GBV crisis, this issue requires urgent attention.
The judge supports stronger alcohol labeling regulations as an additional component for national GBV prevention efforts although the government has already established national awareness campaigns.
He endorsed a policy review process that involved revising health warnings to inform consumers about potential dangers.
Advocacy groups have long argued for stricter measures, citing studies that link alcohol abuse to high crime rates, domestic violence, and public health concerns. Whether the government will respond to Judge Govindjee’s recommendations remains to be seen.
