Monday marked the last day of 16 days of activism in the country. While the campaign was designed to raise awareness of the negative impacts of violence and abuse on women and children, experts, activists, and researchers believe that more, especially at the private sector level, can be done to mitigate and eradicate it.



“I’m not entirely sold on the whole idea of 16 days,” Advocate Bernadine Bachar, director at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Cape Town says, adding, “Because it is an easy pass for policymakers and politicians to say we&#8217;re going to be concentrating on gender-based violence for 60 days and then kind of revisit it a year later.”



In December 2024, the South African Police Services (SAPS) and activism social media group, Women For Change released the 2023/2024 crime stats, identifying that femicide had surged by 33.8% in one year. According to SAPS 5,578 women were murdered between April 2023 and March 2024, a hike from 4,169 women in 2022/2023.



The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Gender &amp; Health Research Unit also released a report in October stating that 60% of women murdered in 2020/21 were killed by an intimate partner, an increase from previous years.



The report further noted that convictions had also dropped, with fewer than one in five intimate partner femicide cases resulting in a sentence. The study shows that a woman’s chance of receiving justice significantly decreased, with more cases of unidentified perpetrators.



“Femicide is preventable. Yet, in South Africa, reports of another femicide have become the new normal.&nbsp;We must address this crisis with urgency, especially given the sharp rise in intimate partner femicide during the pandemic,” Professor Naeemah Abrahams, Chief Specialist Scientist at the SAMRC Gender &amp; Health Research Unit said in the report.



“The fact that conviction rates are so low, and the number of unsolved cases is growing, should be a resounding call to improve our justice system’s response to gender-based violence.”



Bachar says that this also has a dire effect on the economy.



“Gender-based violence and its impact on survivors has an impact on the economy when it comes to our health system, our police system, our workforce, our children and their placements in schools and ability to carry on with their schooling. It affects every aspect of a woman’s life. And if we don’t get to grips with eradicating [it], we are going to be damning the next generation to be sitting exactly where we’re sitting at the moment.”



KMPG has estimated in their Too Costly to ignore –&nbsp;the economic impact of gender-based violence in SA report that the economic impact of that violence is between at least ZAR28.4 billion ($1.5 billion) and ZAR42.4 billion ($2.3 billion) in 2013, representing 0.9% and 1.3% of GDP respectively.



GBV researcher Gorata Chengeta states that although she agrees that the monetary value of it is there, there are also costs that cannot be quantified.



“As someone whose research and work is focused on the experiences of survivors and what happens after GBV, it’s really important to remember the human cost of GBV to people’s individual lives, which cannot be quantified in monetary terms, but also the conversations about the economic impact are also related to that human cost,” Chengeta tells FORBES AFRICA.



Although there have been initiatives and programs from corporates that are centered on assistance regarding GBV, the question remains – is there more that can be done?



Experts believe that agency and urgency can help elevate the problem, especially when it comes to the involvement of the private sector.



Ngaa Murombedzi is the Southern Africa Regional Advocacy and Policy Manager at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She highlights that the intersection between GBV and HIV in South Africa needs to be confronted and says that it starts with policy.



“Private sector companies can have clear policies that speak against gender-based violence within the workspace; this looks like providing a safe environment for employees that encourages reporting any form of abuse without fear of retaliation,” she tells FORBES AFRICA.



“We know that stigma and discrimination continue to be the biggest contributing factors around gender-based violence and its perpetuation within our society in South Africa.”



Institutions like the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children have served 276,000 women and children over the last 25 years, and have offered job skills, entrepreneurial training, and psychosocial support.



However, Bachar notes that the unemployment rate is a lone indicative of how costly GBV is to the country.



“What the private sector can do is work with those of us that are in in the gender sector to perhaps free up 100 entry-level jobs,” Bachar adds.



“Let’s talk to supermarkets [for example], free up entry-level jobs for GBV survivors that are coming out of shelters; we can then start moving these women through the shelter system into jobs that can be empowering to them to actually put food on the table, get a sense of self-worth [and] move away from violence and the perpetrator.”



It been referred to as something that is paramount to a “pandemic that is crippling society, depriving women and children of their right to be safe and continue with their daily lives without fear of being murdered or raped, if not both” by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.



“The private sector often has resources to support other causes. They have corporate social responsibility causes and something practical that they can do with that money right now is to invest in funding shelters that support survivors and victims of domestic violence, because at the moment, there is a shortage of funding, and it’s a sector that does a lot of very important work,” Chengeta concludes.

WCG Form Human Chain In Commemoration Of 16 Days Of Activism

Beyond The 16 Days: What Corporates Can Do In The Fight Against GBV In South Africa

South Africa’s ongoing battle with gender-based violence (GBV) has received a boost with the release of the first national study on the subject. Conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the report goes beyond statistics to expose the structural and behavioral factors fueling this epidemic. At its core, the study reveals the interconnectedness of mental health crises, entrenched societal norms, and systemic inequalities. The report, first commissioned in 2022, was released during a press conference earlier this week.



Women Most at Risk



The study estimates that more than 7.8 million South African women have experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, said Dr Nompumelelo Zungu, Deputy Executive Director at the HSRC, announcing the report in Pretoria.



While all women are vulnerable, those with disabilities face heightened risks. Women living with disabilities are twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to those without. “For a lifetime, this report shows that all forms of abuse are very high for women living with disabilities,” Zungu explained. These women face unique challenges that demand urgent, tailored interventions, including their reliance on others for daily needs, which leaves them more exposed to abuse.



Black African women also bear the brunt of physical violence. “Lifetime physical violence was significantly higher among Black African women with 35.5%, compared to women of other race groups,” said Zungu.



A Broader Crisis in Masculinity



The study highlights the mental health struggles faced by men, particularly those who perpetrate violence. Early childhood trauma, substance abuse, and socioeconomic pressures emerge as recurring themes among perpetrators. These issues underscore the need for targeted mental health services and programs aimed at dismantling harmful gender norms.



The findings show how deep-rooted societal norms perpetuate violence. Patriarchal beliefs, such as those normalizing men’s control over women, remain prevalent, contributing to a toxic environment. According to the study, nearly a quarter of men believe women cannot refuse sex with their husbands, and 8% believe there are times when women deserve to be beaten.



The Covid-19 pandemic amplified these vulnerabilities, with intimate partner violence (IPV) surging during lockdowns. Economic strain and isolation left many women trapped with their abusers, further underscoring the link between systemic inequalities and GBV.



The HSRC study presents a range of recommendations to tackle GBV, including community interventions to challenge harmful norms, enhanced support systems for survivors, and economic empowerment initiatives.

South Africa : Illustration

Study Reiterates Hidden Drivers Of South Africa’s GBV Crisis

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation announcing that the government will further ease the country&#8217;s lockdown restrictions.



Restaurants, beauty salons, cinemas are among the businesses that will be allowed to operate again in South Africa.



The country is still on lockdown ‘Level 3’ of the government&#8217;s “risk adjusted strategy”.



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">South Africa remains at lockdown level 3, but additional sectors of our economy will now be allowed to reopen – as long as strict measures are in place to ensure physical distancing &amp; personal hygiene. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/lyNAqCUOdv">pic.twitter.com/lyNAqCUOdv</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273319508019724288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Containing COVID-19 is our collective responsibility. As we cautiously ease lockdown restrictions, it is vital that South Africans remain engaged, co-operate with others &amp; observe the regulations in place to protect public health. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/aVP2gHUiSv">pic.twitter.com/aVP2gHUiSv</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273321633491628033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">As more sectors of our economy reopen, our continued success in curbing the rate of COVID-19 infections depends on responsible behaviour. Social distancing, the use of masks &amp; certain restrictions on movement must remain part of our daily lives. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rh9u5Btjhd">pic.twitter.com/Rh9u5Btjhd</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273321971607113728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Restrictions on most public gatherings will remain in place at this stage of the lockdown to protect the community and reduce the spread of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> infection. <a href="https://t.co/FZ59w3TdGn">pic.twitter.com/FZ59w3TdGn</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273322726464372736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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President Ramaphosa also spoke on the gender based violence in the country. 



&#8220;It is with the heaviest of hearts that I stand before the women and the girls of South Africa this evening to talk about another pandemic that is raging in our country. The killing of women and children by the men of our country. As a man, as a husband, and as a father to daughters, I am appalled at what is no less than a war that is being waged against the women and the children of our country,&#8221; says Ramaphosa. 



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">President <a href="https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CyrilRamaphosa</a> is addressing South Africans tonight as our country continues to fight the coronavirus. A critical focus for government at this time is on our effort to protect girls &amp; women from sexual &amp; gender-based violence during this outbreak. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/P48Pcz0R6H">pic.twitter.com/P48Pcz0R6H</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273323699236732931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Watch below:



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">President <a href="https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CyrilRamaphosa</a> addresses the nation on South Africa&#39;s risk-adjusted strategy to managing the spread of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaVirusSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaVirusSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Level3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Level3</a> <a href="https://t.co/W8sAT1Z4f0">https://t.co/W8sAT1Z4f0</a>&mdash; The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidencyZA/status/1273314734071111680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>

Ramaphosa new

Covid-19: Restaurants, Beauty Salons, Cinemas Among Businesses That Will Operate Again In South Africa As Ramaphosa Announces Eased Lockdown Restrictions

Snapshots of the outrage against foreign nationals and
protests against sexual offenders in South Africa in recent weeks, captured by
FORBES AFRICA photojournalist Motlabana Monnakgotla.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



As the continent’s second-biggest economy, South Africa
attracts migrants from the rest of Africa. But mired in its own problems of
unemployment and political instability, September saw a serious outbreak of
attacks by South Africans on foreign nationals and foreign-owned businesses.
And they have been ugly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 



The spark that fueled the raging fire was in Pretoria, the
country’s capital, when a taxi driver was shot dead by a foreign national who
was selling drugs to a youngster in the central business district (CBD).



The altercation caused a riot and the taxi industry brought
the CBD to a standstill, blocking intersections. It did not stop there; a week
later, about 60 kilometers from the capital in Malvern, a suburb east of the
Johannesburg CBD, a hijacked building caught fire, leaving three dead. As
emergency services were putting out the fire, the residents took advantage and
looted foreign-owned shops and burned car dealerships overnight on Jules
Street. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="924" height="617" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest2.png" alt="" data-id="42001" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42001" class="wp-image-42001" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest2.png 924w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest2-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest2-600x401.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest2-768x513.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px" /><figcaption> A burned shop on Jules Street is one of the many shops that were looted. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="922" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest1-1.png" alt="" data-id="42002" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42002" class="wp-image-42002" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest1-1.png 922w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest1-1-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest1-1-600x401.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest1-1-768x513.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px" /><figcaption> A cashier’s window smashed during a looting spree in Katlehong. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



The lootings extended to the CBD and other parts of
Johannesburg.



To capture this embarrassing moment in South African
history, I visited Katlehong, a township 35 kilometers east of Johannesburg,
where the residents blocked roads leading to Sontonga Mall on a mission to loot
the mall and the foreign-owned shops therein overnight. 



Shop-owners and workers were shocked to wake up to no
business.



Mfundo Maljingolo, a worker at Fish And Chips, was among the
distressed.



“This thing started last night, people started looting and
broke into the mall and did what they wanted to do. I couldn’t go to work today
because there’s nothing to do; now, we are not going to get paid. The shop will
be losing close to R10,000 ($677) today. It’s messed up,” said Maljingolo.



But South African businesses were affected too.



Among the shops at the mall is Webbers, a clothing and
footwear store. Looters could not enter the shop and it was one of the few that
escaped the vandalism.



Dineo Nyembe, the store’s manager, said she was in disbelief
when she saw people could not enter the mall. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="614" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest5-2.png" alt="" data-id="42004" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42004" class="wp-image-42004" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest5-2.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest5-2-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest5-2-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest5-2-768x509.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> A worker cleans up after a liqour store was looted by Katlehong residents overnight. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="921" height="611" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/protest6.png" alt="" data-id="42005" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42005" class="wp-image-42005" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/protest6.png 921w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/protest6-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/protest6-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/protest6-768x509.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px" /><figcaption> Car dealerships were among the businesses set alight on Jules Street. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



“We got here this morning and the ceiling was wrecked but
there was no sign that the shop was entered, everything was just as we left it.
Now, we are packing stock back to the warehouse, because we don’t know if they
are coming back tonight,” lamented Nyembe, unsure if they would make their
daily target or if they would be trading again.



 Across the now-wrecked mall are small businesses that were not as fortunate as Webbers, and it was not only the shop-owners that were affected.  



Emmanuel Nhlane’s home was robbed even as attackers were
looting the shop outside.



“They broke into my house, I was threatened with a petrol
bomb and I had to stand outside to give them a chance; they took my fridge,
bed, cash and my VHS,” said Nhlane.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="929" height="614" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest11-1.png" alt="" data-id="42007" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42007" class="wp-image-42007" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest11-1.png 929w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest11-1-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest11-1-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest11-1-768x508.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px" /><figcaption> Rubble and dust on the streets of Katlehong after a night of looting at a local mall and its foreign-owned shops. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



Nhlane had rented out his yard to foreign nationals to
operate a shop. He does not comprehend why his belongings were taken because he
doesn’t own a shop. Now, it means that the unemployed Nhlane will not be
getting his monthly rental fee of R3,700 ($250).



Far away, the coastal KwaZulu-Natal province of South
Africa, was also affected as trucks burned and a driver was killed because of
his nationality. This was part of a logistics and transport industry national
strike.



Back in Johannesburg, I visited the car dealerships that were
a part of the burning spree on Jules Street. 



The streets were still ashy and the air still smoky, two
days after the unfortunate turn of events.



Muhamed Haffejee, one of the distraught businessmen there,
said: “Currently, we are still not trading.”&nbsp;




Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa,
which hosted the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa from September 4 to 6,
was also witness to protests by women and girls from all walks of life outside
the Cape Town International Convention Centre, demanding that the leadership
take action to end the spate of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. 



There were protests also outside Parliament. What set off
the nationwide outcry was the shocking rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a
19-year-old film and media student at the University of Cape Town, inside a
post office by a 42-year-old employee at the post office. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="610" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest4.png" alt="" data-id="42010" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42010" class="wp-image-42010" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest4.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest4-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest4-600x395.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest4-768x506.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> According to Stats SA, there has been a drastic increase of women-based violence in South Africa. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="929" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest8.png" alt="" data-id="42011" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42011" class="wp-image-42011" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest8.png 929w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest8-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest8-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest8-768x508.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px" /><figcaption> Leader of the African National Congress Women’s League, Bathabile Dlamini, was also present outside the JSE. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



There was anger against the ghastly crimes and wave of GBV
in the country that continues unabated. According to Stats SA, there has been a
drastic increase of women-based violence in South Africa; sexual offences are
up by 4.6%, from 50,108 in 2018 to 52,420 in 2019. 



A week later, on a Friday, Sandton, Africa’s richest square
mile and one of the biggest economic hubs, was shut down by hundreds of angry
women and members of advocacy groups from across Johannesburg. They congregated
by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the cynosure of business, singing and
chanting, to demand “a 2% levy on profits of all listed entities to help fund
the fight against GBV and femicide”.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 



Among the protesters was Cebi Ngqinanbi, holding a placard
that read: “I’m not your punching bag.” 



“We came here to disrupt Sandton as the heart of
Johannesburg’s economic hub. We want to make everyone aware that women and
children are being killed every day in South Africa and they [Sandton] continue
with business as usual, sitting in their offices with air-conditioners and the
stock exchange whilst people on the ground making them rich are dying. That is
why we are here, to speak to those that have economic power,” said Ngqinanbi.



She added that if women can be given economic power, they
will be able to fend for themselves and won’t fall prey to abusive men, since
most women stay in abusive relationships because men are more financially
stable. 



Amid the chanting and singing of struggle songs, Nobuhle
Ajiti addressed the crowd and shared her own haunting experience as a migrant
in South Africa and survivor of GBV. She spoke in isiZulu, a South African
language.



“I survived a gang rape; I was thrown out of a moving car
and stabbed several times. I survived it, but am I going to survive xenophobia
that is looming around in South Africa? Will I able to share my xenophobia
story like I can share my GBV story?” questioned Ajiti.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest9.png" alt="" data-id="42013" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42013" class="wp-image-42013" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest9.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest9-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest9-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest9-768x510.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> Addressing the resolute women outside was the JSE CEO Nicky Newton-King who received the memorandum demanding business take their plight seriously. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="922" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest12.png" alt="" data-id="42014" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42014" class="wp-image-42014" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest12.png 922w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest12-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest12-600x400.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest12-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px" /><figcaption> Women hold up placards stating their grievences against GBV. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



She said as migrants, they did not wake up in the morning
and decide to come to South Africa, but because of the hardships faced in their
home countries, they were forced to come to what they perceived as the city of
opportunities. And as a foreign national, she had to deal with both xenophobia
and GBV. 



“We experience institutionalized xenophobia in hospitals; we
are forced to pay huge amounts for consultation. I am raped and I need medical
attention and I am told I need to pay R5,000 ($250). 



“As a mere migrant, where am I going to get R5,000? I get
abused at home and the police officer would ask me where I’m from because of my
accent, I sound Zimbabwean. What does my nationality have to do with my husband
beating me at home or with the man that just raped me?” she asked.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="922" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest10-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-42018" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest10-1.png 922w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest10-1-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest10-1-600x400.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest10-1-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px" /><figcaption> Women stop traffic while they hold up placards stating their grievences against GBV. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure>



Addressing the resolute women outside was the JSE CEO Nicky Newton-King who received the memorandum demanding business take their plight seriously, from a civil society group representing over 70 civil society organizations and individuals. 



The list of demands include that at all JSE-listed companies contribute to a fund to resource the National Strategy Plan on GBV and femicide, to be launched in November; transport for employees who work night shifts or work after hours; establish workplace mechanisms to provide support to GBV survivors as part of employee wellness, and prevention programs that help make workplaces safe spaces for all women. 



Newton-King assured the protestors she would address their demands in seven days. But a lot can happen in seven days. Will there be more crimes in the meantime? How many more will be raped and killed in South Africa by then?



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="614" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest13.png" alt="" data-id="42016" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42016" class="wp-image-42016" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest13.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest13-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest13-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest13-768x508.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> Nationwide outcry was setoff by shocking rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="612" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest14-1.png" alt="" data-id="42017" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=42017" class="wp-image-42017" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest14-1.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest14-1-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest14-1-600x396.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Protest14-1-768x506.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> What set off the nationwide outcry was the shocking rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old film and media student at the University of Cape Town Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></li></ul>

Tag: GBV

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