Castration of rapists no solution – experts

Experts agree that chemical castration on men found guilty of rape will not be a solution to address the scourge of rape. Times Select says this is after ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini called for harsher punishment for those found guilty of rape, which she said should include chemical castration. Sonke Gender Justice spokesperson Given Sigauqwe said the organisation was against such an approach because gender-based violence was more about power and humiliation than sex. ‘Research on countries that exercise the death penalty shows that it fails to deter commission of crimes and is more expensive than those serving a life sentence. Furthermore, chemical castrations and the death penalty are acts of violence themselves which violate the right to life and bodily integrity.’ Professor Rachel Jewkes, of the SA Medical Research Council, agreed, saying chemical castration would never solve the rape problem in the country. ‘The issue with rape is that it is driven by patriarchal entitlement to have sex with women and girls forcibly. This idea is what needs to be changed and not the hormones men have to have sex,’ Jewkes said