South African community groups and non-profits are mobilizing men to combat gender-based violence following the discovery of 12 women’s bodies over three months in Ekurhuleni. The crisis has prompted the non-profit Father A Nation to promote positive masculinity in Johannesburg informal settlements to prevent femicide before it occurs.
Ekurhuleni murders spark community mobilization
The discovery of 12 women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni near Johannesburg has reignited public anger over the scale of violence against women.
Did You Know? Between April and June of this year, the South African Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed—an average of six per day—and 1,052 others survived attempted murder.
Father A Nation targets male role models
In Johannesburg, local organizer Itumeleng Stephen Tamaga, known as Bra Steve, works to restore dignity to local men.
Participants in these gatherings, such as 30-year-old Kgomotso Mathekga, have admitted to past violence. Mathekga cited a lack of male role models, noting that many fathers and uncles in his community are in prison.
Protests reveal divisions over immigration
While many are calling for safety, some demonstrations have been complicated by anti-immigrant sentiment. A march in central Durban, billed as a day of action against gender-based violence, involved members of the vigilante group March and March who carried weapons and shouted anti-immigrant slogans.
Protesters threatened immigrant-run shops during the event. Despite the GBV framing, some attendees used the march to protest immigration, though others stated there is no evidence that people from other countries are more likely than South Africans to commit GBV.
On September 30, about 25 people marched to the Western Cape legislature starting shortly after 11 a.m. This group included members of the One Love Alliance political party, the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO), and Operation Dudula. As they passed the Grand Parade in Cape Town, marchers shouted “go home” and “voetsek foreigner.”
Ramaphosa admits government failed to improve women's safety
President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that the government has not done enough and has announced measures to improve women’s safety. Xolani Zuma, husband of March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, stated the president provided no meaningful solutions.
In Qonce, protesters recently marched to a police station to demand action on unresolved cases. Marchers claimed some cases remain unattended despite the availability of CCTV footage. When the group attempted to deliver a memorandum, they were informed the station commander was on leave.
The Qonce march included rape survivor Mxhosakazi Njanjula and GBV survivor Khanyisa Tshali. Asonele Melapi of the Nokwanda Patocka GBV Foundation also participated, noting her sister was murdered by a boyfriend on October 4, 2021.
Possible next steps for GBV prevention
Activists may continue to pressure the Department of Community Safety and Social Development for deeper involvement. In the Free State, activist Nkosikhona ‘Phakelumthakathi’ Ndabandaba has vowed that demonstrations will continue if immigration issues are not resolved by the end of the year.
Theresa Nortje, a member of March and March, argued that the R600 million spent on police to manage June 30 protests should have been used to fight GBV.
Meanwhile, victims’ families in Qonce may continue to seek answers from district officials regarding outstanding police investigations.
Violence Against Women in South Africa FAQ
What are the current statistics on violence against women in South Africa?
According to a 2022 Human Sciences Research Council report, more than 35% of South African women experienced physical or sexual violence, often from intimate partners. Between April and June of this year, 569 women were killed, according to the South African Human Rights Commission.
Who is Father A Nation and what do they do?
Father A Nation is a non-profit that promotes positive masculinity and works with men and boys to help eliminate gender-based violence.
Why are some GBV protests linked to anti-immigrant groups?
Some marches, such as those led by the group March and March, have been billed as actions against femicide but have been used by members to protest immigration and target immigrant-run shops.
Which government agencies must be held accountable for the unresolved GBV cases reported in Qonce?
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