Page 2 - Advancing Life - January 2025

Over 20 years
of femicide research
in South Africa
The SAMRC’s Gender & Health
Research Unit (G&HRU) recently
launched the results from their
4th National Femicide Study at
an event in Pretoria. The report
covers the four surveys from
1999 up to 2020/21.
According to the report, 60% of women
murdered in 2020/21 were killed by an intimate
partner, an increase from previous years. Despite
an overall drop in femicide during the COVID-19
pandemic’s alcohol ban periods, intimate
partner femicide increased. Convictions also
dropped, with fewer than 1 in 5 intimate partner
femicide cases resulting in a conviction.
Empowering Africa’s
Next Generation of Scientists:
TFS-SAMRC Centre of Excellence Gears Up for 2025 Launch
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) have
joined forces to establish an advanced training facility designed to strengthen molecular
biology expertise across Africa.
This flagship hub, to be located in Pretoria, will
be complemented by five regional hubs across
the continent, each dedicated to addressing
critical skills gaps by delivering targeted training
in molecular techniques for postgraduate
students and researchers. The initiative, which
combines TFS’s technological leadership with
SAMRC’s infrastructure and training expertise,
emerged from a shared commitment to
building scientific capacity and driving research
innovation in Africa.
The centre of excellence’s curriculum
emphasises hands-on technical training in key
molecular methodologies such as polymerase
chain reaction (PCR), aseptic mammalian cell
culture, and proteomics. Alongside technical
competencies, participants will develop
essential laboratory management and financial
planning skills to support broader career
WHAT IS FEMICIDE?
Femicide is the intentional murder of
women because of their gender and
includes any killings of women or girls.
The SAMRC has been studying femicide
in South Africa for more than 20 years.
Findings from the report showed that
South Africa continues to have some of
the highest femicide rates in the world.
The Eastern Cape continues to report
the highest femicide rates in the country,
while Gauteng saw a significant increase
in cases during 2020/21. Provinces like
“Femicide is preventable. Yet, in South Africa, the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and
Free State saw slight decreases.
reports of another femicide have become the
new normal,” said Prof. Naeemah Abrahams,
Chief Specialist Scientist at G&HRU. “The fact Contact the 24-hour Gender Based
Violence Command Centre toll-free
that conviction rates are so low, and the number number 0800 428 428 to report abuse.
of unsolved cases is growing, should be a
resounding call to improve our justice system’s
response to gender-based violence. These figures
are devastating. Femicide is not just a criminal
justice issue—it reflects deeply rooted societal
inequalities and requires a comprehensive,
multi-sectoral approach to prevent and reduce it.
When we allow these cases to go unsolved and
unpunished, we not only fail the victims but also
send a message that gender-based violence and
femicide are tolerated”, concluded Prof. Abrahams.
The full report can be accessed via our website:
www.samrc.ac.za
advancement in academia and industry.
This dual focus aims to prepare graduates
comprehensively for the demands of careers
in molecular biology, genomics, and other life
sciences sectors.
Applications for the first cohort is estimated
to open in March 2025, with onboarding
scheduled for June 2025. Stipends covering
accommodation, travel, and daily expenses
will be available, ensuring the program’s
accessibility to diverse student populations.
The Centre’s strategic goals include
training 5,000 Masters and PhD students and
researchers across Africa over the next five
years. This collaborative initiative aims to build
a robust foundation of scientific talent in
Africa, fostering innovation and addressing SAMRC and Thermo Fisher Scientific Roadshow,
the continent’s unique research and visiting the University of Venda, University of Limpopo,
healthcare challenges for years to come. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and
Tshwane University of Technology.