Calls grow for accountability as obstetric violence emerges as overlooked form of GBV

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Apr 15, 2026 · 1130 words · By Gauta Mashego; Kholofelo Mphahlele

Healthcare System Accountability Human Rights and Constitutional Law Obstetric Violence

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Daily briefing

What to know about Healthcare System Accountability

South Africa continues to grapple with alarmingly high levels of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

South Africa continues to grapple with alarmingly high levels of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Why it matters

In 2025, nationwide protests over the crisis led President Cyril Ramaphosa to classify GBVF as a national disaster.

Common ground

However, while public attention often focuses on violence in homes and communities, another form of gender-based violence (GBV) is quietly unfolding within the country’s healthcare system.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Pity: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Healthcare System Accountability story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In 2022, obstetric violence was officially recognised as a form of gender-based violence at the Second Presidential Summit on Gender-based Violence and Femicide?
How does this story connect Healthcare System Accountability with Human Rights and Constitutional Law over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-15-calls-grow-for-accountability…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Pity 80% confidence

Evoking sympathy to win support rather than using logical arguments.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to pity helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 6

schedule Pending 4

check_circle Corroborated 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “In 2022, obstetric violence was officially recognised as a form of gender-based violence at the Second Presidential Summit on Gender-based Violence and Femicide.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources confirm that at the Second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in 2022, obstetric violence was recognized as a form of GBVF.

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web search NEUTRAL — The recognition of obstetric violence as a form of GBV necessitates action from the Department of Health. “We call on the Minister of Health to serve on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBVF,” says …
https://www.wits.ac.za/news/sources/cals-news/2022/obstetric…

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web search NEUTRAL — At the second presidential summit on gender-based violence and femicide in 2022, Embrace and other civil society partners successfully lobbied for obstetric violence to be recognised as a form of GBVF…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/labour-wards-hide-sil…

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web search NEUTRAL — 2022 - obstetric violence named at presidential summit on gbv. In 2021, Embrace began consulting with Dr Rucell who, along with women from various sectors, had pushed for obstetric violence to be offi…
https://issuu.com/dgmurraytrust_issuu/docs/dgmt_issue_28_nov…

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Claim 2: “Section 12(2) (a) and (b) go on to further extend the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the ability to make decisions concerning reproduction and to have security in and control over one’s own body.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 3: “In 2025, nationwide protests over the crisis led President Cyril Ramaphosa to classify GBVF as a national disaster.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim discusses the US presidency and Donald Trump; it contains no information regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa, GBVF, or national disasters in 2025.

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web search NEUTRAL — The incumbent president is Donald Trump, who assumed office on January 20, 2025. [5][6] Since the office was established in 1789, 45 men have served in 47 presidencies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_Unit…

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web search NEUTRAL — Click on a president below to learn more about each presidency through an interactive timeline. The table below the graphic provides a list of presidents of the United States, their birthplaces, polit…
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presidents-of-the-United-St…

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web search NEUTRAL — After a landslide election victory in 2024, President Donald J. Trump is returning to the White House to build upon his previous successes and use his mandate to reject the extremist policies of...
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/donald-j-trump/

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Claim 4: “On 27 February 2026, during Reproductive Health Month and Pregnancy Awareness Week, Embrace hosted a “Laundry Day” action”

SINGLE SOURCE

Similar to claim 4, the evidence provided discusses a rock band, pet insurance, and a dictionary definition. There is no mention of a 'Laundry Day' action or Reproductive Health Month events in 2026.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Embrace are an English rock band formed in Bailiff Bridge, West Yorkshire, in 1990. The band consists of brothers singer Danny McNamara and guitarist Richard McNamara, bassist Steve Firth, keyboardist…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace_(English_band)

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web search NEUTRAL — Get nose-to-tail pet insurance you can use at any vet. Lifetime illness coverage, recurring issues covered, and an optional Rx plan for pet meds, even for chronic conditions. Embrace Pet Insurance pay…
https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — May 9, 2026 · The meaning of EMBRACE is to clasp in the arms : hug. How to use embrace in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Embrace.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embrace

info

Claim 5: “The WHO also found that there were high rates of non-consensual caesarean sections, episiotomies and vaginal examinations.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'reported' and does not contain any factual information regarding WHO findings on caesarean sections or episiotomies.

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web search NEUTRAL — May 8, 2026 · The meaning of REPORT is common talk or an account spread by common talk : rumor. How to use report in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reported

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web search NEUTRAL — Announcing, informing & stating (Definition of reported from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reported

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web search NEUTRAL — To return after deliberation to a legislative body for action: The committee reported the new tax bill out.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/reported

help

Claim 6: “on 11 March 2026, Embrace officially launched a report titled “The Extent and Nature of Obstetric Violence in South Africa, 2025 Birthing Survey Findings Report”.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

info

Claim 7: “The survey found that 23.8% of women said they were ignored while in active labour, 21.9% reported poor postnatal care, and 21.1% said they had been shouted at by healthcare staff.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists of Tripadvisor reviews and articles about pizza in Seattle, which are completely irrelevant to the claim about obstetric violence statistics.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Best Pizza in Seattle, Washington: Find Tripadvisor traveller reviews of Seattle Pizza places and search by price, location, and more.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60878-c31-Seattle_W…

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 23, 2026 · But after conducting very scientific research over the years (a.k.a. eating a lot of pizza around the city), we’re pleased to announce that Seattle does indeed have some excellent pizza…
https://www.theinfatuation.com/seattle/guides/best-pizza-in-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 28, 2023 · Here are the top 15 places where you'll find the best pizza in Seattle, from thin crust to deep dish, according to locals.
https://secretseattle.co/best-pizza-seattle/

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Claim 8: “In 2019 a study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that there was new evidence that showed that more than one-third of women in lower-income countries such as Ghana and Nigeria experienced mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm a WHO-led study published in The Lancet showing that more than one-third of women in lower-income countries (specifically mentioning West African countries like Nigeria) experienced mistreatment during childbirth.

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web search NEUTRAL — New evidence from a WHO-led study, published today in the Lancet, shows that more than one-third of women in four lower-income countries experienced mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities…
https://www.who.int/news/item/09-10-2019-new-evidence-shows-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Over a third of women in four low and middle income countries have experienced mistreatment around the time of childbirth, a study has found.1 The research, led by the World Health Organization, inclu…
https://www.bmj.com/content/367/bmj.l5941

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web search NEUTRAL — A NEW study has found out that one-third of women in three West African countries and Myanmar experienced mistreatment and were vulnerable around the time of birth.
https://www.icirnigeria.org/report-reveals-women-are-abused-…

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Claim 9: “furthermore, section 12(1)(c), (d), and (e) provide for the right to freedom and security of the person, including the right to be free from all forms of violence... the right to not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “Section 27(1)(a) of the Constitution affirms that everyone has the right to access healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 11: “53% of women who partook in the survey reported experiencing some form of obstetric violence.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists of a Wikipedia entry for the number 53, a dialing code, and a news story about a drowning. There is no evidence regarding the Embrace survey results.

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web search NEUTRAL — 53 (number) ... 53 (fifty-three) is the natural number following 52 and preceding 54. It is the 16th prime number.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/53_(number)

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web search NEUTRAL — Which country has the dialing code +53? Here you will find out to which country the code is belonging to. You received an unknown call with the country calling code +53?
https://www.auslandsvorwahlen.net/en/prefix/104

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web search NEUTRAL — A 53-year-old father and his 7-year-old son were found dead in Lake Erie after a canoe outing on Monday, May 11 Ontario Provincial Police told PEOPLE the pair were wearing life jackets at the time ...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/father-53-and-7-year-ol…

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Claim 12: “At the end of 2023, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Embrace: The Movement for Mothers launched a national Birth Survey.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided discusses an English rock band, pet insurance, and a dictionary definition of 'embrace'. There is no evidence regarding a 'Movement for Mothers' or a 'Birth Survey'.

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help

Claim 13: “According to the report, approximately 60% of people who gave birth in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal over the past decade experienced some form of obstetric violence, representing roughly 1.79 million individuals.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

schedule

Claim 14: “this protection is also reinforced by section 10, which guarantees that every person’s dignity must be respected and protected.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.