Society devoid of a moral compass: a call for restoration and renewal

THE shocking murder-suicide in Chatsworth - in which a man killed his wife, attempted to take the lives of his own children, and then hanged himself - has shaken the community to its very foundations. It is tempting to dismiss this as an isolated incident, the result of a man who “snapped” under pressure. Yet to do so would be a grave error.

Such an atrocity is not an aberration; it is a symptom of a society in deep moral and social crisis. It is the visible rupture of an invisible fault line that has been widening for decades - the erosion of family stability, the weakening of social cohesion, and the failure of institutions designed to protect the vulnerable.

This event forces us to confront a painful truth: violence in the home is no longer a private matter but a structural problem that undermines the health of communities and the moral fabric of society. The tragedy in Chatsworth must, therefore, serve as a catalyst for national introspection and urgent reform. If unheeded, the cost will not only be measured in the loss of lives but also in the continued corrosion of social trust and the perpetuation of intergenerational trauma.

Domestic violence is not an individual failing alone but a systemic crisis rooted in a complex interplay of social, cultural, economic, and psychological factors. Academic research consistently demonstrates that violence in intimate relationships is sustained by power imbalances, patriarchal norms, and cultural silence around abuse. This is compounded by social dislocation: fractured families, absent fathers, economic insecurity, untreated trauma, and the availability of drugs and alcohol. Together, these factors create fertile ground for the eruption of violence.

Yet what is perhaps most alarming is not only the persistence of domestic violence but the normalisation of warning signs that precede it. Possessive behaviour, obsessive jealousy, verbal intimidation, economic control, and isolation from support networks are frequently overlooked or dismissed as private marital issues. Such minimisation creates a culture of permissiveness, where early signs of abuse are ignored until they escalate into physical violence - often with lethal consequences.

The silent victims of domestic violence are invariably children. The psychological literature is unequivocal: exposure to violence in the home disrupts childhood development, damages emotional regulation, and increases the likelihood of behavioural problems. Children who witness abuse internalise conflicting messages - that love coexists with violence, that silence is survival, and that power is exercised through domination.

Studies further show that these children face elevated risks of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and difficulties forming healthy adult relationships. In some cases, the cycle is replicated, with boys growing into men who normalise aggression, and girls into women who tolerate abusive behaviour. Domestic violence, therefore, is not only a private tragedy but a societal time bomb, perpetuating a cycle of violence across generations. Breaking this cycle is not merely desirable but imperative for the stability of future society.

Even when victims attempt to seek help, the very systems designed to protect them too often become barriers. Court protection orders are plagued by bureaucratic delays, shelters are overcrowded and underfunded, and police responses remain inconsistent. Each administrative hurdle narrows the window of safety for victims, leaving them increasingly vulnerable.

South Africa’s legislative framework is not lacking in intent. The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 and subsequent amendments provide for protection orders and recognise various forms of abuse beyond the physical. However, the gap between law and lived reality is stark. Implementation is weak, enforcement uneven, and monitoring insufficient. The systemic failure lies not in the absence of law but in the lack of institutional will, resources, and coordination.

The scale of the crisis demands an urgent, multidimensional policy response. Merely tinkering at the margins will not suffice; what is required is a wholesale reorientation of our approach to prevention, intervention, and restoration.

First, the judicial system must be recalibrated to prioritise domestic violence cases. Specialised domestic violence courts, properly resourced and staffed, should be established to fast-track cases and ensure consistency in sentencing. Harsher mandatory sentences for perpetrators - without the option of suspended sentences or lenient bail - would send an unequivocal message that violence against women and children will not be tolerated. However, punishment must be coupled with mandated rehabilitation programmes, lest abusers return to society unchanged and prone to reoffend.

Second, the health system must play a proactive role. Every hospital and clinic should establish 24-hour crisis units staffed by social workers, counsellors, and legal advisors, ensuring victims receive immediate support. This model has been successfully implemented in countries like Canada and Australia, where healthcare settings are frontline points of intervention.

Third, the state must dramatically expand community-based safe houses. Current shelter capacity is woefully inadequate, forcing victims to either return to dangerous environments or relocate far from their communities. Decentralised safe houses embedded within local neighbourhoods - operated in partnership with NGOs and faith-based organisations - would allow victims to seek safety without uprooting their entire lives.

Fourth, the state must integrate technology into its response. Mobile crisis units, GPS-linked panic buttons, and real-time victim hotlines could extend protection to victims who cannot physically access police stations. Technology has already revolutionised banking and commerce; there is no reason it cannot do the same for victim protection.

While intervention is critical, prevention must become the cornerstone of policy. Academic evidence affirms that prevention is most effective when initiated early, particularly in childhood.

Schools should become incubators of emotional intelligence, teaching children conflict resolution, empathy, and respect for gender equality alongside mathematics and science. Such curricula would cultivate values that inoculate against violence in adulthood. Simultaneously, mentorship programmes must be established for boys from fatherless homes. Research demonstrates that positive male role models can counteract the distortions of masculinity often internalised in such contexts.

Substance abuse rehabilitation also requires urgent expansion. Alcohol and drugs are significant catalysts in domestic violence incidents, exacerbating aggression and reducing impulse control. Yet addiction is too often treated solely as a criminal issue rather than a public health concern. Establishing more community-based rehabilitation centres, funded through health budgets, would not only address root causes but also alleviate pressure on the prison system.

Workplaces, too, should not be overlooked. Employers have both a moral and economic interest in addressing domestic violence, as victims frequently experience absenteeism, reduced productivity, and mental health challenges. Policy incentives - such as tax rebates for companies that implement confidential reporting systems, workplace counselling, and paid leave for victims - could integrate the private sector into the broader solution.

Families remain the first line of defence against domestic violence. The silence of relatives and neighbours, often justified as “not interfering in private matters,” is in fact complicity. Families can intervene early by recognising red flags, offering refuge, and supporting victims in accessing legal and social resources. Equally, families must model healthy communication, respect, and conflict resolution to prevent the normalisation of aggression in the next generation.

Communities, too, must reclaim their responsibility. Faith institutions, civic organisations, and cultural associations have unparalleled influence in shaping values and norms. They must leverage their platforms to denounce abuse, support victims, and champion moral renewal. The media, likewise, has a responsibility not only to report on tragedies but to sustain a national conversation that challenges cultural silence and calls for systemic change.

Ultimately, no policy, however well-crafted, can succeed if society does not reclaim its moral compass. Domestic violence is not only a legal or social issue but a moral crisis. It reflects a distortion of values in which strength is equated with dominance, and silence with survival. To rebuild a society rooted in justice and compassion, we must reaffirm the inherent dignity of every human being, the sacredness of family, and the responsibility of men to embody not control but care.

The Chatsworth tragedy is not just another headline; it is a cry for action. If we fail to respond with urgency, more women will die, more children will be scarred, and more families will be destroyed. This is a defining moment that demands stronger laws, smarter policies, and deeper values. Only through a united front of government, civil society, families, and communities can we hope to rebuild a society with a true moral compass.

Dr Jonathan Annipen is a councillor of the eThekwini Municipality for the IFP. He serves as the whip of the IFP in the finance committee.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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