[Listen] ‘Proven fact’ that cancer contributes to GBV, says Bogopane-Zulu

Bogopane-Zulu made the claim on the side lines during the department’s women’s month campaign in the Northern Cape.  

On Friday Bogopane-Zulu visited the province to facilitate a drive offering mobile health services to communities throughout the country. 

She’s since come under fire for her claims, but she maintains it is a proven fact. 

“Breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate and testicular cancer are contributors to gender-based violence because all of these are actually sexually related, they are the jewels of the family. Women who have breast cancer, who have their breasts removed are then instead of receiving support from their partners they are looked at as not being complete, of not being full.

“Cervical cancer is one of the contributors because when women are in pain, going through treatment they cannot perform their marital duties of providing sex to their partners, they get abused, ill-treated. The same as men who have got prostate and testicular cancer.”

Bogopane-Zulu says these cancers have a stigma attached, fuelling conflict in the household.

“These affect women, they affect self-esteem, they affect women’s worth and it has been proven and it is a fact that cancer, especially these four cancers, contribute highly to gender-based violence.”

She attests to having seen it personally with women.

“In the Department of Social development nationally I’ve had lunch with women in our department that are falling apart, that are at the mercy and being ill-treated by their partner because they lost their breast.” 

The Deputy Minister’s claims come amid the country’s continued fight against gender-based violence. 

Several high-profile cases have made headlines, sparking more calls to government to deal with the scourge of the attack of women.  

Listen to Bogopane-Zulu: