South Africa may join countries like Poland, South Korea, Russia and Australia – these are all the countries that practice chemical castration. This is being considered due to the recent hike in child rape cases in the country.
Chemical castration has been practiced since the 1940s, and reduces the level of testosterone in men – effectively lowering their sex drive.
Th procedure is reversible in most cases, and the drug administered does not prevent a man from experiencing sexual urges indefinitely.
The African National Congress’ Women’s League (ANCWL) has called on lawmakers to consider passing laws to impose a stricter punishment on those who are found guilty of rape.
Speaking to EWN, ANCWL secretary-general, Meokgo Matuba said the “law is not an adequate deterrent for rapists”.
“We mean business, we’re serious. We’re going to mobilise all women across the country, and including in the continent, to work with us on this matter to make sure that our voices are heard,” she said.
Matuba also added that chemical castration is among only one of several harsh punishments that the ANCWL would like to see imposed, and also includes the more traditional form of castration – surgical castration.
This involves the surgical process of removing the testicles of a man, taking away their sex drive completely.
The Eastern European country of Kazakhstan has recently begun the process of chemical castration of tried and convicted paedophiles.
The country introduced the punishment of chemical castration at the beginning of this year, and thus far, more than 2 000 injections have been administered.
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