Action Society has expressed serious concern following reports that a Durban doctor, previously convicted of assaulting his former wife, was granted bail after allegedly using a smuggled cellphone while under guard in hospital to contact her in violation of a protection order.
According to media reports, the doctor had already been convicted in connection with domestic violence against his former wife, yet allegedly continued to contact and intimidate her despite court orders intended to protect her.
Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society, says the case highlights a growing crisis in South Africa’s response to domestic violence: “We are constantly told that victims must get protection orders, report violations, and trust the system to protect them. But cases like this raise a deeply uncomfortable question: if even convictions are not deterring abusers, how can victims reasonably believe that a piece of paper will keep them safe?”
Du Preez says many victims are being failed by a system that often treats protection orders as a sufficient intervention while enforcement remains weak and consequences inconsistent.
“A protection order can only work if violations are treated with urgency and seriousness. Too often, victims report breaches repeatedly while intimidation continues. In many instances, abusers become emboldened because they see that the system struggles to enforce its own orders decisively.”
Action Society says the emotional and psychological impact on victims is severe when perpetrators continue making contact despite convictions, court processes, and active protection orders.
“The message this sends to victims is devastating. It creates the impression that even after going through the trauma of reporting abuse, opening cases, obtaining protection orders, and enduring court proceedings, they may still remain unsafe.”
Action Society has repeatedly warned that South Africa’s domestic violence crisis cannot be addressed through paperwork and procedure alone. Effective enforcement, swift consequences for violations, and meaningful victim protection are essential if public trust in the justice system is to be restored.
“Protection orders are important legal tools, but they are not magic shields. If perpetrators are willing to ignore convictions and court orders without fear, then the system is failing to create real deterrence,” says Du Preez.
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