A judge deeply troubled by the recurring link between alcohol consumption and gender-based violence (GBV) has called on the Minister of Health to enhance warning labels on alcoholic beverages. Judge Avinash Govindjee, presiding over the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape, expressed his growing concern after sentencing two men in separate cases where alcohol played a pivotal role in the brutal murders of their partners. As part of his ruling, he instructed his registrar to ensure the Minister received copies of his judgments, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
In the first case, Mthutuzeli Manyathi was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder and attempted murder of his partner. During the initial attack, he stabbed her multiple times with a broken brandy bottle while both were intoxicated. Although she survived that incident, she ultimately succumbed to his violence six months later when he beat and strangled her to death, once again under the influence of alcohol. The tragic event was sparked by an argument over alleged infidelity.
In the second case, another man received a 24-year prison sentence after he, in a drunken rage, beat his wife to death while she was breastfeeding their infant. He, too, accused her of infidelity before subjecting her to fatal violence.
Judge Govindjee highlighted expert testimony indicating that South Africa has an alarmingly high rate of intimate femicide, with nearly three women being murdered by their partners each day. Research has consistently shown the role of alcohol in intimate partner violence, underscoring the need for targeted preventative measures. He remarked that cases involving GBV and sexual offenses, including child rape, frequently share a common factor—alcohol consumption.
Citing the law that grants the Minister of Health the authority to regulate labeling on food and beverages, including alcohol, the judge pointed out that while current regulations require health warnings on alcoholic beverages, the messaging remains inadequate. Among the seven approved health warnings, only one vaguely addresses violence and crime, stating that “alcohol is a major cause of violence and crime.” There is no explicit mention of the well-documented link between alcohol consumption and GBV, including rape and murder within domestic settings.
Furthermore, Judge Govindjee noted that alcohol labels are only required to display one of the seven health warnings, occupying a mere one-eighth of the total label space. He questioned whether this approach was sufficient in warning consumers about the dangers of alcohol-fueled violence. The omission of a direct warning about alcohol’s role in GBV, he argued, is a significant oversight.
Given the nation’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence and intimate femicide, the judge urged authorities to reconsider the current labeling system. Highlighting the crucial role awareness plays in addressing GBV, he called for a stronger, more explicit message to be conveyed to alcohol consumers—one that acknowledges and warns against the devastating impact of alcohol-induced violence in domestic relationships.
