Once more there are more questions than answers as to why this madness revisits us.
A relay of officials’ statements flooded the social space – often contradicting each other – as they tried to outdo each other’s counsel.
But it never escaped the public that the suggested solutions were, to a large extent, just knee-jerk reactions not based on the proper diagnosis of the problem.
Simply explaining away the madness as something caused by the injustices of the past, for instance, misses the point by a wide margin.
In the absence of a bulletproof, home-brewed solution, perhaps we need to look somewhere else for answers.
German researcher, Noelle-Neumann, may have been on to something when she developed the spiral of silence theory.
According to this theory, individuals tend to keep their views to themselves if they contradict public opinion so as to not become isolated.
For example, how does a wife report a rape against a breadwinner husband, or a schoolgirl expose an award-winning, beloved teacher?
What is devastating about this silence is that it mostly happens unconsciously. It is an internalised stratagem to avoid ostracism, taunts or even physical attacks.
Neumann believes that this silence tends to be linked to moral or controversial issues.
Understanding this theory may make us appreciate the reasons women and children sometimes choose to remain silent in the face of evil.
We are a sick society that turns a blind eye to the many ills that besmirch our society, especially when we feel those close to us are safe and secure.
Some of us only register our outrage if we are to gain a façade of relevance. We condemn and judge easily if nothing accrues to us; and the perpetrators meanwhile grow in confidence.
It is for that reason that we so glibly ask the victims to speak out without full appreciation of the implications of doing so.
Many die not only in isolation, but also having been isolated by the same society that only displays its horror over their bodies.
This spiral of silence can and will only be broken if women- and children-friendly courts become the order of the day.
Police units tasked with safeguarding those who are vulnerable in society must be strengthened, capacitated and adequately equipped.
Above all, it is scandalous that we have qualified social workers out of work when we need them.
If we, the people, want to stop the rot, we should join hands in breaking this spiral of silence by simply listening to the victims and taking drastic action.
Good men and women should, not as an afterthought, begin to mould real men out of the boy child.
We must remember that stiff sentences – including the return of the hangman – are just one of many ‘solutions’.
We need to be proactive.
