Watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEXyzYjphdM
News Category: Blog
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TV channel looking for women who are or were unable to earn a living because of domestic or gender-based violence
This comes from a financial news TV channel which is looking for women who are or were unable to earn a living because of domestic or gender-based violence, or women who were not given support in the workplace to deal with a violent partner (e.g. time off of work to go to court etc).
A recent KPMG study has put a monetary value to the hurt and suffering that many women in this country face on a daily basis. A financial news channel wants to highlight this plight and put a face to those numbers to show their viewers, who are mostly high powered men, that GBV is not a private issue and is something that needs to be addressed consciously because it does impact the economy. They need brave women to come forward and share their stories about how GBV affected their lives.
Please email info@genderjustice.org.za with the subject line “Available for television interview” if you are a woman who’s been financially impacted by gender-based violence and would like to share your story.
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Sonke commends Minister Mashabane and Ambassador Minty for voting YES to Resolution on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
Sonke applauds South Africa, DIRCO Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Ambassador Minty for standing up for equality and human rights and voting YES in support of the Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (#SOGI) last week.
This is important leadership from South Africa to help address violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
The Daily Maverick reports that Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, South Africa’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said that South Africa’s history and struggle against all forms of discrimination “has therefore made us, as a people and a country, committed to the principle that no person should be subjected to discrimination or violence based on race, class, sex, religion, gender and as is the case with this resolution, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The resolution survived seven hostile amendments seeking to strip it of all references to sexual orientation and gender identity.Human Rights Watch explains that “the resolution asks the high commissioner for human rights to update a 2012 study on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (A/HRC/19/41), with a view to sharing good practices and ways to overcome violence and discrimination. The resolution expresses grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination in all regions of the world against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This resolution demonstrates that this issue remains on the agenda of the Human Rights Council and sends a message of support to people around the world who experience this type of violence and discrimination, the organizations said.”
Ambassador Minty says this will help South Africa too as despite our laws, South Africans are still subjected to discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Sonke Gender Justice applauds all the countries who voted YES for equality and non-discrimination – we need voices against violence, hate, intolerance and discrimination based on gender, identity and sexual orientation.
US Secretary of State John Kerry says “the community of nations made an historic statement in support of LGBT rights, which are human rights” by adopting the second-ever United Nations resolution on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.
— by Czerina Patel
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Fatherhood Graduation in Lower Crossroads
On September 20 Sonke held a Fatherhood Graduation in Lower Crossroads.
The program promotes positive parenting and encourages fathers to be involved in their children’s lives. It also teaches fathers to be good role models for their kids.
Fathers and their children mobilised community members by going door-to-door and inviting them to join the graduation festivities. Graduates were from Gugulethu and Lower Crossroads.
Photographs by Thulani Velebayi
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Justice for Sandiswa at last, but what about the rest of SA’s women?
There were so many emotions in the Eastern Cape today… at the courthouse in Butterworth with us were two mothers – the mother of Sandiswa Mhlawuli (the 27-year old woman whose ex-boyfriend was on trial for killing her) and the mother of Dorcas, a 14 year old girl who was recently raped and murdered.
Though we celebrated a guilty victory in Sandiswa’s murder, and celebrated the community coming together to speak out against gender-based violence, what kept surfacing was that what is bringing us together (what is happening to our women and children) is just so wrong!
Sandiswa left behind two children. Her mother Noma Italy looks after them without Sandiswa as a breadwinner and mourns the death of her daughter! But Noma Italy smiles a little, and expresses gratitude for the support – from Sonke, from the community action team (CAT), from the strangers wearing t-shirts with her daughter’s face on them. All of this tells her that her daughter is not forgotten, that her daughter is not just a statistic, that her daughter is being honoured and that anger at her daughter’s murder is being channelled into something positive… and she can at least breathe a sigh of relief that the man who killed her daughter no longer walks free, that he finally is held in custody while he awaits sentencing (a minimum of 15-20 years).
And then, there’s Dorcas’ mother. After we spend the morning at the courthouse, pushing for justice for Sandiswa, and celebrate the guilty verdict, we travel to Dorcas’ village. Dozens of women, men and children stand in the hot son, facing Dorcas’ grave, listening to village and community leaders talk about how we all need to work together to stop the violence against women and children. A prayer is said at the 14-year-old girl’s grave (which sits on its own on a hillside near the home of her family), one of her young friends cries, her mother stands at the grave saying how she’s not been able to go there until now, that the support of the people there has given her strength to come and stand at the grave. She says she thinks drugs and alcohol are contributing to this violence. She tells me she’s accepted her child is dead, but now she wants to dedicate her life to fighting gender-based violence (GBV).
There’s some light in all this sadness, but still… standing at the grave of a child with her mother makes you remember that this work is essential, but it also makes you simply lament the fact that we live in a world where people perpetrate such brutalities on other human beings.
— by Czerina Patel
Photos by Czerina Patel
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Crowd mobilises outside Butterworth Magistrates’ Court during trial of Nkosinam Xabadiya
Last week we mobilised a large crowd outside of the Butterworth Magistrates’ Court during the trial of Nkosinam Xabadiya. We’re expecting even more people tomorrow when the verdict will be read. The protestors were wearing t-shirts remembering his victim, 27-year old Sandiswa Mhlawuli. Despite the pain her mother has experienced, losing her daughter and being left to care for Sandiswa’s two children alone, here Sandiswa’s mother is also comforted by the community coming out in numbers to support her, to honour her daughter and to say NO MORE!
Besides those we’ve reached in our workshops and the trainings we’ve done in these communities to combat gender-based violence, besides those who are joining the protests and standing outside the court demanding justice, we know that many passersby will also be reached. Those who see what is happening will realise that this is not a community that is going to sit by while women and children are abused and killed…
By taking a stand like this, these communities are changing social norms, and showing their fellow citizens that domestic violence will not be tolerated, abusing women and children is not acceptable, and that society will stand up to demand that perpetrators be punished.
[CP]
Click HERE to view the video via Facebook.
Video by Demelza Bush
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Sonke mobilises the community and supports Sandiswa Mhlawuli’s mother while Nkosinam Xabadiya waits to hear his fate
Last week we mobilised a large crowd outside of the Butterworth Magistrates’ Court during the trial of Nkosinam Xabadiya. We’re expecting even more people tomorrow when the verdict will be read. The protestors were wearing t-shirts remembering his victim, 27-year old Sandiswa Mhlawuli. Despite the pain her mother has experienced, losing her daughter and being left to care for Sandiswa’s two children alone, here Sandiswa’s mother is also comforted by the community coming out in numbers to support her, to honour her daughter and to say NO MORE!
Besides those we’ve reached in our workshops and the trainings we’ve done in these communities to combat gender-based violence, besides those who are joining the protests and standing outside the court demanding justice, we know that many passersby will also be reached. Those who see what is happening will realise that this is not a community that is going to sit by while women and children are abused and killed…
By taking a stand like this, these communities are changing social norms, and showing their fellow citizens that domestic violence will not be tolerated, abusing women and children is not acceptable, and that society will stand up to demand that perpetrators be punished.
by Czerina Patel
Click HERE to view the video by Demelza Bush
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Sonke fights for justice for openly gay murder victim, David Olyn, in Ceres
Besides pushing for the police and criminal justice system to properly prosecute the murder of David Olyn, a young openly gay man, Sonke and our partners (including Witzenburg Rural Development Center) have been running community dialogues to address some of the issues around homophobia, gender, discrimination, gender-based violence and #hatecrimes in the Ceres community.
We hope you will be able to join us tomorrow (Weds, Sept 3) at 830am at the Ceres Magistrates Court as we once again mobilise in an effort to make the system produce justice for David!
Homophobia, hate crimes, gender-based violence and murder all deserve a proper response by South Africa’s police and judicial system which includes policing, evidence-gathering and follow up that seek to prevent such tragedies in the first place, but at least work effectively to bring perpetrators to justice when such brutal crimes occur!
Join us in our call for a multisectoral, comprehensive, funded, timelined (with measures for accountability) national strategic plan to combat gender-based violence around South Africa.
#LGBTI rights are Human Rights – #Equality for All NOW!
Photos by Jenna Zhang / Copyright Sonke Gender Justice
by Czerina Patel -
What does Sonke Gender Justice do?
Do you know of Sonke Gender Justice? Sonke (meaning “together”) is a South African based NGO that works in South Africa, throughout Africa and through global mechanisms to promote gender equality, positive ideas of masculinity and gender, sexual health & reproductive rights, and human rights – especially those that intersect with gender, sexuality, sexual health and equality. Our work seeks to combat gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS, child abuse, homophobia, domestic violence and rape, and seeks to foster positive attitudes around masculinity, engaged fatherhood, non-violence in relationships and families, and awareness around/furtherance of human rights (whether for refugees, children, women, LGBTI communities, sexworkers or prisoners).
We work on the ground in South Africa, doing workshops, trainings, mobilisations and activism, we work with partners throughout Africa (especially through our MenEngage Africa and MenCare networks), we work nationally through policy and government advocacy, and we work globally through mechanisms such as MenEngage and also directly with United Nations agencies and many other global players working on issues of equality, violence, health & rights.
Our vision is a world in which men, women and children can enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies. We hope you’ll join us in working towards this vision & keep in touch with us by joining us on Facebook, Twitter & subscribing to our newsletter atwww.genderjustice.org.za.
Please share & invite your friends to join us – TOGETHER/SONKE, we can work to achieve equality!
By Czerina Patel
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Sonke and Delft community march against violence
Yesterday, Sonke Gender Justice and members of the Delft community marched in solidarity against the violence inflicted on the women and children of Delft. As the march neared the part of Delft where nine-year old Queen was raped and murdered earlier this year, more community members joined the march. On the back of their T-shirts: a photo of Queen, and the words “Justice for Queen. Stop! Abusing our Children Speak Out Against Gender Based Violence!”
Afterwards, in collaboration with Delft police, a community dialogue and discussion took place. Many members of the community where Queen lived were present. The community members sang the South African national anthem movingly in a hymn-like fashion. Members of the community and Queen’s family (including her grandmother) were present to speak to the police about their feelings regarding the case and to have their questions answered.
Queen died two months after she was raped and set on fire in Delft. Miraculously, she was still alive when she was found, and named her attacker as a man who lived in the neighborhood. When he was apprehended, police say the man had fresh burn wounds and visible scratch marks on his body. But at this point, the case is not being prosecuted due to lack of evidence and Queen’s accused murderer walks free.
The police Constable explained to the community members at Sonke’s dialogue what the police were doing to keep the case open, and said that they’re waiting on tests to come back before they can reopen the case.
Sonke will be following this case and doing what we can to both ensure that Queen’s murder is properly prosecuted, and also to engage the Delft community and the Delft Community Action Team (CAT) in awareness and mobilisations to combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality, non-violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
By Czerina Patel (with contributions from Nicole Brewer and Damien Schumann)
Photos by Damien Schumann and Nicole Brewer -
Sonke staff travel to Eastern Cape to join community members in advocating case of woman killed by her partner
Sonke’s Policy & Advocacy Director, Vuyiseka Dubula; MenCare Government & Media Manager, Patrick Godana; Senior MenCare trainer, Leo Mbobi; and One Man Can Trainer, Mzwakhe Khumalo, are in the Eastern Cape again, following up on a murder case that we’ve been advocating around during the past six months.
You may have read about the murder of Sandiswa Mhalwuli, a 27-year-old unmarried mother of two, who was stabbed to death in December last year. Eye-witnesses say her ex-boyfriend Nkosinam Xabadiya (then 29-years-old) pulled her out of a stationary commuter van and stabbed her multiple times:
https://genderjustice.org.za/article/justice-for-sandiswa/
Sonke has been working in Dutywa and the surrounding areas to push the justice system to properly prosecute this murder, and also to work with the community to build awareness around gender and violence, and to promote both gender-equality and non-violent relationships.
We’ve done a number of workshops in the community around fatherhood, gender activism, gender equality, and sexual & reproductive health and rights.
We’ve also done a lot of work with bringing the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) into this case, and with the Chafutweni Community Action Team (CAT). We are working with community members who are committed to mobilising themselves to combat gender-based violence and to further gender equality and justice.
Today, we have regular updates from the court case in Butterworth from Patrick Godana (edited and pasted below). Below the court updates is a further description of our work in the area yesterday from Vuyiseka Dubula.
Images come from our Sonke team there (Patrick, Vuyiseka and Leo), and include images of Sandiswa, given to us by her family.
We cannot bring back those whose lives have been tragically cut short by intimate partner or gender-based violence, but we can and must continue to work to stem the tide of violence in our country, and to push for a justice system that properly works for victims.
It is because so many people are suffering what Sandiswa suffered that Sonke is repeatedly, urgently and loudly calling for our government to implement a costed, funded, multisectoral national strategic plan to combat gender-based violence immediately, and with measures for accountability, timelines and proper implementation in place. Please join us in this call.
We will continue to keep you updated about our work in this case.
Court updates from Patrick Godana:
8/13/14 7:24 : Speaking at Ibiza in one of the villages next to Roma – event organised by local traditional chief and the local ward councillor.
8/13/14 7:27 : This is the village where another woman was killed.
8/13/14 7:33 : Ready for the court case… just received a call from Capt Matshoba (Idutywa detective unit) that court will start at 9am sharp as the doctor who conducted the postmortem has asked to be first and leave to attend to her/his private practise. All systems are in place. Taxis will pick up all Community Action Team members (CATs) at their respective pick-up points as agreed in our planning meetings.We shall assemble opposite Butterworth post office and march towards the regional court singing peace and struggle songs…
8/13/14 9:42 : Right in court waiting for the judge…The accused has just taken the witness box and the prosecution has also called in Dr Potelwa to the witness stand.
8/13/14 9:42 : The prosecutor is now asking the doctor for his credentials and the extent of his medical practice as the district surgeon.
8/13/14 9:42 : Started postmortem.
8/13/14 9:42 : 6 chest wounds 1 cm long and one was a stab heart and also he went on elaborating.
8/13/14 10:50 : Started doing the work as the district surgeon in in 1987.
8/13/14 10:50 : Dr Potelwa is his name and he gave excellent evidence.
8/13/14 10:51 : Now the defence is questioning the accused…
8/13/14 10:52 : Says he started getting involved in a romantic relationship with Sandiswa in 2011
8/13/14 10:55 : The accused claims that he had proposed marriage to Sandiswa in November as he planned to visit her family to arrange marriage…
8/13/14 11:21 : He says the quarrel started over the phone as the accused is claiming that she was writing an sms and wanted to know about the sms’s.. He says she then put her phone in her bag and he grabbed it… he claims she grabbed his private parts… and says, then he took out a knife and he stabbed her 2 times and in trying to scare her. He said she was screaming that he was injuring her, but he did not not notice that.
8/13/14 11:23 : The accused demonstrated how he stabbed her two times.
8/13/14 12:28 : The case is now adjourning… till… Monday 1st September at 2pm.
Description of Activities in the area on Tuesday August 12, 2014 – by Vuyiseka Dubula
Today we met leaders of the villages surrounding Qhora including Roma, Chafutweni and other villages under the leadership of chief Nosizwe and a young woman chief.
There were about 60 people at the chief’s home (Komkhulu at Lower Qhora) and we were given time to address the imbizo. This began with overview of Sonke as an organisation and our work in the Eastern Cape. This ended up being a 2 hour workshop on basic rights literacy, gender equality, positive parenting and role of man in the struggle against gender-based violence.
Questions were allowed towards the end. Questions asked involved the following topics:
- sexual violence and the lack of access to justice in rural areas
- children who are left with grandparents while parents live in cities using children’s grants.
- community basic service delivery issues and the lack of progress and accountability of the local government leaders such ward councillors.
Nkosi Nosizwe, the Chief, welcomed Sonke’s inputs today and would like us to conduct a full day workshop and meeting with a big group in the community to unpack all of the issues we addressed today.
Description of Activities in the area on Tuesday August 12, 2014 – by Vuyiseka Dubula
Roma community Action Team preparation meeting:
We reflected on the case hearing (to prosecute the murder of Sandiswa Mhlawuli) that happened in July and reported back on the Community Action Team (CAT) activities.
We also did a short presentation about basic organising and helped the CATs with their plans for this month. This includes follow-up training for the current CATs to capacitate them to take more leadership at local level, and training for the traditional and religious leaders in the area.
Four CAT members will volunteer in the local clinic to encourage and promote health-seeking behaviour. The group volunteered four members (women and men) to be trained by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to conduct HIV workshops (for other CAT members and the local clinic) in the village.
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South African refugees celebrated for fortitude and fashion contributions at World Refugee Day event
Today, on June 20th, the world celebrates World Refugee Day. In Cape Town, civil society organisations and artists from all over the world gathered to honour the courage and strength of the millions of men, women and children who fled their homes under threat of persecution. About a hundred people attended the event which was organized by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, with collaboration by Sonke Gender Justice (“Sonke”).
According to a UNHCR report, there are more than 50 million refugees in the world, the highest number since World War II, and 65,000 in South Africa alone. Refugees in South Africa come from countries all over Africa, including Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in search of freedom from violence and oppression. They often face challenges of integration here, and some have been the targets of xenophobia. The event today highlighted the fact that despite these formidable obstacles, many refugees have made extraordinary contributions to South Africa as musicians, designers, writers, public servants and activists.
The event featured runway shows displaying the collections of refugee designers – Rea’Nubia, Thread of Good Hope, Prosperity Fashion and Shwe-Shwe. Inspired by a variety of African traditional designs, the collections were well-received by attendees. The crowd cheered as the models – young African women of all shapes and sizes – walked down the runway. Many of the designs evoked the national origins of their designers. “We want women to wear clothes they identify with,” the announcer said as she introduced the collection of Patricia Matereure, a Zimbabwean refugee who had begun her design business with one sewing machine.
Several refugees, including human rights activist Abdillahi Ahmed Mohamed who works in Sonke’s Refugee Health and Rights programme, told their stories. Abdillahi recounted how he fled Somalia and was able to find refuge in South Africa. He explained that here he could pursue an education, and also help other refugees have better lives. Others spoke not only about the difficulties of being a refugee, but also of the persistence and resilience that comes along with it. One woman urged her fellow refugees not to “sit and feel sorry” for themselves but to take part in their new communities. An Eritrean refugee said that refugee students were “very serious students” and spoke with pride about the academic accomplishments of his children.
Jackie Mckay, the Deputy Director General of Immigration Services at the Department of Home Affairs, Shirley Gunn from the Human Rights Media Centre and Patrick Kawuma-Male from the UNHCR praised the courage and fortitude of refugees and emphasized the importance of an integrated South Africa. “Their stories is [sic] our stories,” Kawuma-Male declared to general applause.
Photo and Text by Jenna Zhang
Edited by Czerina PatelRead on Facebook
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Let’s get some perspective on intimate partner homicide
Sonke Gender Justice reminds the media to respect ethics in Oscar Pistorius trial and not to ignore other cases of intimate partner homicide.
By the end of the first week of the trial in which Oscar Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, around 21 South African women will have been killed at the hands of their boyfriends and husbands. It is unlikely that any of these women will receive the media attention their lives deserve, and even less likely that their cases will get to trial at all.
Today, while cameras are setting up and opening arguments are being made, 175 women will report being raped to the police – just a fraction of the number of rapes that will actually have taken place. It is unlikely that these women or their rapes and murders will be reported on widely in the media, nor likely that the state will commit the necessary resources to appropriately investigate and prosecute these cases. In South Africa, only 7% of reported rapes lead to conviction.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of intimate partner homicide in the world. The trial of Oscar Pistorius provides an opportunity for journalists to report responsibly on these issues and to desist from creating a hierarchy of incidences of gender-based violence.
As the trial begins, Sonke Gender Justice (“Sonke”) calls on South African and international media to respect both the law and general ethical guidelines. Sensationalising this case harms not only the family of the victim, but also harms all victims of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).
Editors and journalists covering the Pistorius trial are encouraged to cover GBV more broadly. It is necessary that their reporting shine a spotlight on the systemic failures of the state to protect the rights of victims and their families, expose corruption and abuse, and highlight the stories of women who would otherwise not receive media attention during this period. As the pages of newspapers and the broadcast time of television and radio stations are filled with the Pistorius trial, where will these other victims’ stories be told? And what about the prosecutions (or failures thereof) of other men that are being charged with killing their partners?
For those who choose to focus only on the Pistorius trial, we urge you to report responsibly, and especially not to interfere with the work of the criminal justice system through inappropriate handling of witnesses, and state officials.
Patrick Godana, Sonke’s Government & Media Manager, notes that “South Africa has a great many challenges in respect of gender-based violence. We call on the media not to become a part of this massive problem, but rather to work towards being a part of its solution.”
Contact
Patrick Godana (Sonke Government & Media Manager) patrick@genderjustice.org.za
Media Contact: Czerina Patel (Sonke Communications) czerina@genderjustice.org.zaBackground for editors
Femicide
Intimate femicide is defined as the killing of a female person by an intimate partner (i.e. her current or ex-husband or boyfriend, same sex partner or a rejected would-be lover).
- In 2009 (the most recent year for which stats have been analyzed) there were 1024 femicides; a 24% drop from the 1349 women murdered in 1999.
- While this is a marked improvement, intimate femicide has become the leading cause of female homicide in South Africa.
Rape
- There were a total of 64 514 sexual offences reported countrywide (in South Africa) in 2011/2012.
- This translates into approximately 175 reported rapes each day.
- In a study carried out by the South African Medical Research Council in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in 2009, a quarter of men admitted to raping a woman.
- One in 10 men in the same study said they had been forced to have sex with another man. Many find it difficult to report such attacks to the police.
- Reporting is extremely low among women, and conviction rates even lower, with only 7% of reported rapes leading to a conviction.
- For additional resources see the Gender and Health Research Unit at the Medical Research Council of South Africa website:
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Read Dr Steve Letsike’s open letter to African leaders after Uganda outlawed homosexuality
Dear African Leaders,
I hope this letter finds you in good health.
I want to just say I am deeply disappointed, hurt and scared of you. I wake up every morning and I question my thoughts and views of african renaissance, I question my birth right, my ability to decide to build a family, I question relations to my family, relatives, friends, I question my ability to contribute to transformation, I question my contribution to economy, to empowerment, I question my freedom, I question my feelings and my life.
After spending so much time questioning myself, I have come to one conclusion-I chose to LOVE, love myself, love my neighbour, love my parents, love my education, love my God, love my community, love my country, love Africa, love the world, love my past, love my people, love my partner, love my children, yes my children… I said it my children.
Do you know how I feel? Do you think you have the right to speak and decide about what I want?well till you speak to me, I will say you have no idea, all you do is hurt, hurt and hurt, and take away my freedom, let me also remind you, your take on homosexuality, on gender equality, and human rights has and continues to cost lives.
I have asked myself why? Why do you continue to hurt an African child? Why do you continue to hurt sons and daughters of the soil?is this self interest, is this power dynamics, you gamble with my life, my brothers and sisters lives?
Let me say this…
You need to remind yourself about what demonstrating love is and what it means. True and sincere love does not insist on its rights. In the final analysis, there are two kinds of people in this world: those who lay claim to their rights and those who think about their duties; those who lay claim to their privileges and those who always think about their responsibilities; those who think that life owes them something and those who thinks that they owe life something.
People can be divided to into “grabbers” and “givers”. The grabbers are those who, with clenched fists and white knuckles, constantly cling to what they regard as theirs, they are dirt poor, bankrupt in love. Mercifully, we also get givers. Those who are like the myrtle-tree on the plains that gives its lovely fragrance to the heavens, without expecting something in return.
If you were to think less about yourself interest political agenda and power, stop using me as your entry point to gaining and maintaining your power, and think more about your obligations to all in our diversity, you will be serving the world, your people, shaping the future, you will be revealing what love is, you will be revealing a revelation of true love.
All I see in you is self driven agenda of power, you have drifted from the people, from the interest of Africans. Your reluctant to reveal the true leadership qualities. You appear to be cold and introverted, you are afraid of being misunderstood, you rather make others be and feel misunderstood. This is really sad, because so many unexpressed emotions, dialogues and quality leadership views -could have enriched the world-however we remain slumbering in personalities and your personal views.
One of the characteristics of love is expressing appreciation and acknowledging others through love. It takes so little to say it loud, and yet, it brings so much joy to both giver and grabber(receiver). Love can be demonstrated in a variety of practical ways. It can rise above mere sentimental emotions and enable you to make a way of life out of it, that can enrich the lives of your loved ones.
It is my experience and experiences of others, men and women including gays, lesbians and transgender people that is filled with declared love can be fulfilling and practical. Love not hate.
African Leaders why don’t you start today?Demonstrate love for your nations that you are tasked to protect, promote and uphold, demonstrate love for your people, demostrate love for Africa, demonstrate love for the world.
I stand!
Yours,
Mmapaseka Steve Letsike
This letter is written in my personal capacity. Inspired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Solly Ozrovech and my mother the late Johanna K Letsike (anti-apartheid activist).
Mmapaseka Steve Letsike is with Anova Health Institute, South African National AIDS Council, National Council against Gender Based Violence and with Chapter ll.
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Ugandan gay rights activist Dr Paul Semugoma saved from deportation
Great news from the M&G: Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor offers Ugandan gay rights activist Dr Paul Semugoma the previously rejected skills work permit, saving him from being deported to Uganda where he could be hanged.
An important read: “Ugandan gay rights activist Dr Paul Semugoma’s dramatic week is an example of what can happen if you have colleagues, friends and comrades who can apply pressure on government – and save you from the potential horror of returning to your mother country where your best friend and fellow activist had been murdered for being gay.
Read the full article in the Mail & Guardian
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Sonke Statement on recent rape and burning of 9 year old girl from Delft
Sonke Gender Justice joins South Africa in the outrage and sadness felt at hearing that a 9-year old girl was raped and set on fire in Delft in the Western Cape. This time last year, the country and the world was appalled by the brutal rape and murder of 17 year old Anene Booysen. In 2012, it was seven young men who callously filmed and circulated the video of themselves sexually assaulting a mentally disabled girl. A decade before it was nine month old Baby Tshepang, raped by her mother’s boyfriend and nearly killed by her injuries. Late last year South Africans will remember the case of Yonelisa and Zandile Mali, aged two and three, who were kidnapped and later found, raped and murdered, their bodies dumped in a public toilet in Diepsloot
These horrific stories that make it into the news headlines are, of course, not isolated incidences. Far from it. In South Africa, a rape is committed about every 30 seconds. Some estimates suggest that nearly 1.5 million rapes occur in South Africa annually. Reports also suggest that 40% of these rapes are against children, and 15% against children under age 11.Each of these cases has generated appropriate public outrage and media coverage. Each has also led to a slew of government commitments: to provide more and better services to victims, to hold perpetrators to account, to get challenge the patriarchal norms that equate manhood without dominance over women, a sense of entitlement to their bodies and disregard for women’s rights.In each case though the attention has gradually subsided and, as a result, government’s commitment to action recedes as the public outrage dies down
In his State of the Nation Address delivered just a few days after Anene Booysens’s murder last year, President Zuma recognised the urgency of “unity in action to eradicate the scourge” of rape and said “The brutality and cruelty meted out to defenceless women is unacceptable and has no place in our country.”President Zuma reminded the nation in his speech that the National Council on Gender Based Violence was set up to coordinate government’s efforts to address rape and domestic violence and said “We urge this coordinating structure to make the campaign of fighting violence against women an everyday campaign.”Despite directives from the highest office in the land for the GBV (Gender-Based Violence) Council to urgently address men’s violence against women, the GBV council has failed South Africans and not delivered on its mandate.To date, despite multiple and expensive meetings, it has not yet even developed a national GBV prevention plan, let alone secured the resource necessary to provide health and justice system services to victims, hold perpetrators accountable or roll-out effective GBV prevention campaigns.
This has to change.Unlike the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS which is costed, has the necessary resources from treasury and is implemented in partnership with civil society, there has been no national GBV plan since the 365 Days of Action Plan expired in 2011. This too has to change. If it does not, the Minister of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities must be held to account for her failure to produce the costed national plan South Africa desperately needs.The GBV Council must deliver on its mandate. It has the responsibility to address the inadequate implementation of South Africa’s GBV legislation: especially the Sexual Offences Act and the Domestic Violence Act
Over a decade ago when the Department of Health under Manto Tshabalala-Msimang failed to provide leadership on HIV prevention and the roll-out of AIDS medication, civil society activists engaged in civil disobedience to demand their right to health be respected. TAC and its partners occupied police stations and the offices of the Commission for Gender Equality and demanded government comply with its commitments and obligations as laid out in the Constitution and our national laws and policies. Is it time for us to now embark on similar action to demand our government take urgent action to address gender-based violence? Will that move us from this predictable cycle of violence, outrage, commitments and then inaction to real and rapidly implemented solutions? If the GBV Council cannot deliver on its mandate then its leadership and members must be held accountable for their inaction.Desmond Lesejane, Sonke’s Deputy Director, says “With the 2014 State of the Nation Address just around the corner the President and his cabinet must provide leadership and insist that the GBV Council develops a costed, evidence-based national strategic plan on GBV with timeframes for implementation and clearly laid out responsibilities and consequences for failure to deliver
“Last year Sonke and its partners also called on Minister Gordhan to set aside a special fund to address GBV. We met with officials from Treasury and called for R1Billion a year to cover health and criminal justice system services and to fund effective national prevention campaigns. Khumalo says, “We did not hear back from treasury. This has too to change. We issue this same urgent call again this year. Similar special funds in this amount have been set aside before
“Sonke’s Advocacy manager, Sisonke Msimang, says “GBV costs the country billions in health and police costs and in unmet economic productivity. Minister Gordhan, it’s time to treat GBV as an urgent national priority and budget accordingly.”Sonke calls on the GBV Council to act on its mandate to devise and ensure implementation of an ambitious, evidence-based national plan to address rape and domestic violence. In addition, we call on President Zuma to support and hold accountable the cabinet members responsible for delivering safety and dignity to women and children. We also call on all women and men in South Africa to demand action from local, provincial and national government and to take strong stands against violence in our communities
Contact: mbuyiselo@genderjustice.org.za / czerina@genderjustice.org.za
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Papy Molembe speaks about building the Community Action Team
While Sonke staff in Cape Town are having our 2014 planning meeting today, we’re looking back at our key achievements from 2013. It’s so inspiring listening to Papy Molembe, a trainer from our Refugee Health and Rights Programme speak about his pride at building a dynamic Community Action Team (CAT) in Retreat of 30 people who are like a family now.
He talks about women’s testimonies saying that they’ve now changed how they think about gender, and now give their sons different household duties in the home and involve them in helping them in the kitchen, with cooking and in the household. Papy recognizes that this kind of change will change how these boys grow up and relate to women and their future partners. Another woman told Papy how she came home and taught what she learned to her husband.
Papy also talked about Sonke’s fatherhood work and how men changed nappies/diapers on dolls at a public event on Father’s Day…and he reflects on the moment when he realized that the work that Sonke did with 89 children at Methodist Primary School on gender and gender vulnerability had significantly impacted them at an event where they acknowledged what Sonke had contributed to the school.
Papy says that last year he saw how practical the work he did was… that if one walked around Retreat and asked 5 people about Sonke, that he thinks at least two of them would know what Sonke does because of the way Sonke has reached and impacted that community. Papy said that seeing the impact of this work makes him feel great.
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Abdillahi Ahmed Mohamed’s reflections on Sonke’s work in 2013
Abdillahi Ahmed Mohamed, Peer Educator in Sonke’s One Man Can Refugee Health and Rights Project, beamed a huge smile when asked about his best moments from 2013 as he reflected on the work he did with the Somali communities in Mitchells Plain and Bellville, and especially co-facilitating a four day workshop about sexual health and reproductive rights (SRHR) there. Abdillahi, who comes from Somalia, revealed that issues such as HIV, condom negotiation and sexual violence are often “forbidden” or taboo topics within the Somali community and are often linked to ideas of immoral behaviour or sexual relationships outside of marriage.
Abdillahi, alongside the Refugee Health Rights team, facilitated discussions around sexual health rights in order to share knowledge about HIV and safer sex practices, and to learn more about the taboos around this subject in these communities. He says they had to tackle many gender norms around marriage in these meetings, especially when women didn’t seem to recognize the gender equalities and subordination in their relationships. There were even times when members of the community believed that the team was “creating trouble”, explains Abdillahi as he talks about the importance of doing this work in a way that shows both respect and understanding for the Somali community and their values and beliefs.
Abdillahi remembers sadly how three members of the Somali community passed away this year due to AIDS-related illness, and feels that ignorance of HIV and AIDS, HIV prevention and HIV treatment were a big part of this tragic outcome.
This is why Abdillahi feels his work at Sonke is so important. In the four-day workshop on sexual health and reproductive rights (SRHR), Abdillahi explains he told community members how HIV is transmitted, that “it does not know religion,” gender, race, nor only those who have “sex outside of marriage”. The four-day workshop was organised to educate people about safer sex practices, HIV transmission, HIV testing and medical support. The participants were also taught about the female condom and were given both male and female condoms to take home so that negotiation around condom use and safe sex practices could begin.
The workshops were positively received, and many members of the Somali community are requesting more workshops and training.
Abdillahi’s commitment to the Somali community and his passion for education, community upliftment, and sexual health and reproductive rights has been a significant part of this year for him and he looks forward to future workshops.
To Abdillahi, the fact that members of the community are excited for future projects shows that this work is making an impact and changing the way these issues are both thought about and discussed amongst the Somali community in South Africa.
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Sonke hosts World AIDS Day event in Gugulethu
Sonke Gender Justice, in partnership with the Khanyisa Foundation, NAPWA (The National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS), Phakama Community Health Project, First Resource Community Centre, The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Etafeni Daycare Centre Trust and the City of Cape Town’s Multi-Sectoral Action Team (MSAT), hosted a World AIDS Day event at the NY 49 Stadium in Gugulethu, Cape Town, on Friday the 29th of November.
The event allowed those in attendance to get information from the various organisations involved – both through their stalls and the speakers in attendance. Phumzile Nwyagi, Senior Trainer from Sonke Gender Justice, spoke to the crowd about Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) as a means to reduce the risk of HIV infection. MMC is available as a free service at Sonke’s One Man Can Men’s Wellness Clinic in Gugulethu.
He also spoke of the opportunity men have to reshape the often negative images of men by being responsible partners, fathers and members of the community. Thulani Velebayi, Fathers’ Group Facilitator from Sonke, explained further, “We are not only targeting males, we run workshops for women around gender based violence and human rights. But when it comes to AIDS we need to make sure that men stop testing through their partners. Gender equality means men and women must be tested.” In addition to receiving information, those in attendance were treated to music and performances from community groups. The mostly youthful crowd was provided with an opportunity to access information on topics (some of which are taboo in their communities) in a fun and accessible setting.
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17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA)
The 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), which is currently being held in Cape Town, hosted a session on HIV and Gender Based Violence (GBV), specifically dealing with changing social norms around GBV. Among the panelists was Bafana Khumalo of Sonke Gender Justice and the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).
He spoke of the need to educate men around gender issues and to break the cycle of violent behaviour in men. Khumalo said that when we expose boys to violence in the household, we create men who often grow up to be abusive and feed into a culture that accepts GBV. Citing the recent controversy around poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, Khumalo noted that men who abuse women tend to be repeat offenders, and as long as women are dependent they will keep returning to those men and put themselves at greater risk.
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Sonke’s announcement on the passing of Nelson Mandela
South Africa leads the world in mourning today after the death of its heroic leader Nelson Mandela yesterday at the age of 95. For decades, Mr. Mandela has been a symbol of the struggle for justice and equality, not only in South Africa, but globally.
Mr. Mandela, known affectionately in South Africa by his clan name “Madiba”, committed his life to the fight against an oppressive regime in South Africa, and after more than a quarter of a century of being imprisoned for his efforts to free oppressed people in South Africa, he then, as President of a new democracy, dedicated himself to building a democratic and free South Africa, with dialogue, reconciliation and freedom as cornerstones.
“Madiba was a champion for the rights of all – men, women, children,” says Sisonke Msimang, Sonke Gender Justice’s Senior Programme Specialist, “He was key in the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in 1997, which guarantees gender equality.”
Sonke Gender Justice’s Executive Director Dean Peacock pays tribute to Nelson Mandela and the inspiring life he led, dedicated to bringing about equality and justice for all. “Nelson Mandela embodied the values Sonke works to promote: a commitment to dialogue, democracy, equality and accountability, and a determination to live life passionately and courageously.” Peacock says that Mr. Mandela’s absence will be felt for a very long time in South Africa, but that all citizens have the opportunity to advance his legacy every day.
Sonke Gender Justice will continue to advance Mr. Mandela’s legacy, specifically in regards to promoting gender equality, ending the stigma around HIV, ensuring universal access to treatment, strengthening democracy and ending violence.
We remind people everywhere of Mr. Mandela’s words: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
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Community perceptions of re-integrating ex-offenders
It was on the 18th of July 2012 and I was hosting the radio show that I present every Wednesday from 10 to 12 in the morning. The topic that day was re-integration of prisoners in their families and communities. I started as usual by introducing myself and the day’s topic: “How do we treat people coming from prison? Do you think we are fair or unfair? What do we expect from them?”
“I will never forgive him”
The first caller was a lady who said just a few words, “He raped my child and I will never forgive him for that,” and then she dropped the phone. I had to emphasise that I do understand that many people have been victims of crime and have been abused physically, sexually, emotionally, etc. But my emphasis in the program was to look at how we can create peace in communities and families.
Three callers out of 18 were sharing their own experiences as ex-offenders and saying that they can’t understand why the community does not want to accept them, as they have finished their sentences and they regret what they have done to their victims. Most callers said that there is a need for people not to condemn those coming from prison. If we do, that’s what makes them choose to commit acts that will make them go back to prison.
“I found help – I think differently now”
One caller said, “This topic is so painful. I’ve been in the same situation, thinking that I will never forgive someone else but I believe that affected me. I wasn’t happy. I became the kind of person that I don’t want to be and that was dangerous for me. I found help and I think differently now, compared with before.”
I learned from the discussion that most people want to create peace with people when they come out of prison. But they must be given time and the victims need to get counselling on an ongoing basis so that they can be more tolerant of others.
Peace and reconciliation
I also realize that South Africans are traumatized and there is a lot that needs to be done for this country so that people can be able to reconcile with themselves. Peace and reconciliation need to go national, from the schools to all the communities.
I feel that sometimes it’s not that people don’t accept ex-inmates but rather that ex-inmates might be the victims of difficult circumstances that they still need to deal with. That is why I encourage people to go and look for help so that they find a space to talk about whatever is bothering them.
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I never saw it coming…
It was Tuesday evening around 6pm; I left Braamfontein heading for the Bree Taxi rank to catch a taxi home. There are two routes to my home – Wilgeheuwel in Roodepoort, either via Clearwater Mall or Honeydew. If my husband doesn’t come to pick me up, I usually take a taxi to Honeydew from Braamfontein. On this fateful day I had to pass through Bree taxi rank to buy vegetables.
After buying the vegetables, I decided to check taxis to Clearwater first. On arriving I was directed by this guy (queue marshal) to go wait by the queue. Coincidentally on the queue were my two friends who were staying at my place. They are newly-weds who had come to South Africa for their honeymoon from Zimbabwe. I went and stood with them for a while as we waited for the taxi to come. Having waited for a couple of minutes and seeing no sign of a taxi, I asked my friends how long they have been waiting for and they said 15 to 20 minutes. So I suggested that we could go try Honeydew, maybe there were taxis. When we were about to leave, the rank/queue marshal came to us and asked where we were going, to which I responded that we wanted to try Honeydew since we have been waiting for quite some time and still there was no taxi. He then started threatening to beat and kill me if we were to leave. I obviously thought he was joking… I mean honestly, who would beat someone for looking for alternative transport to get to their home?
I thought I was dreaming
I was in the middle of asking him if he had any idea when the taxi would come when I felt this strong blow on my neck. I was dumbfounded… thought I was dreaming. I just could not believe he had just punched me just like that… For what?
For a moment I thought he was mentally challenged. But I realized he is ‘normal’ and he was actually gloating. I just burst into tears holding my neck. In disbelief, anger, embarrassment and a sense of hopelessness I started walking away. He ordered me to stay and threatened to kill me if I moved a step further. In fear my friends begged me to just obey and wait for the taxi whenever time it would come.
Something in me rebelled and said I won’t let this bastard get his way. I knew it could be dangerous walking away against his command but I told myself if he is going to kill me then let it be. I kept on moving despite him calling me to come back. Seeing I was adamant to leave he shouted at me saying ‘Ja, welcome to South Africa’. Finally I had first-hand experience of the well professed gender-based violence and xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Oh the irony…
This act scared the hell out of my friends who had come for their honeymoon. Ironically, on the previous night when we were discussing with them, the husband had suggested that they would want to come and undertake their post-grad degrees here. The wife contested, expressing her fear of staying in South Africa… fear of violence, crime and death. “It depends with were you stay… I have been here for four years but I have never experienced any violence,” were my exact words in response to her sentiments. Not knowing the very next day my ordeal was awaiting me. I got busted in front of the very people I was trying to convince South Africa is not as bad as the media portray it. Guess I was proven wrong. And they went back home with a true picture and first-hand experience of life in South Africa. Yes, violence is rife and it seems some perpetrators actually pride themselves in this.
I told a couple of friends and acquaintances, getting varied responses, the most common one being if I still want my life I should let it go. Apparently even the police cannot do anything to guys in the taxi industry. So even reporting the case will prove futile. After all it is like a drop of water in the sea. Despite encouragement from other people to go on ahead open a case, I feel confused and scared. What if no legal action is taken and the guy recognises me again at Bree? Won’t it be the end of me? I still cannot believe it; I don’t know what to do or how to react. Besides the headache, sore throat and bruises on the tongue I sustained from the attack, this whole incident has been an awakening for me. Thousands of people go through this or even worse situations every day. This is pervasive and more grievous than I thought.
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Dear President Zuma: retract your misogynistic statements!
I must begin by thanking you for the recognition you bestowed on the many gender equality and women’s rights organisations in the country, in your speech on National Women’s Day.
You said, “[Government] are therefore pleased to work with projects such as Brothers for Life… Soul City and the Sonke Gender Justice [Network].
These organisations remind us that men have an important role to play in combating violence against women and children. We congratulate them for promoting the participation of men so positively. I am thrilled that you and the government are pleased to work with Brothers, Soul City and Sonke, and that you acknowledge that men have a role to play in combating violence against women. In addition to reducing violence against women, these organisations promote gender equality at all levels – for individuals, for families, for communities and workplaces, and in legislation. The gender equality for which these organisations stand not only acknowledges but respects and encourages the autonomy of women as human beings, adults and free agents. These organisations work hard to free people of a social system that categorises people and restricts people’s choices on the basis of those categories.
I am writing to you because I am deeply concerned that, whether you are aware of it or not, you publicly rejected this principal tenet of their work, which you profess to support.
On ‘People of the South’, you said, “…I wouldn’t want to stay with daughters that are not getting married. Because that in itself is a problem in society. I know that people today think being single is nice. It’s actually not right. That’s a distortion. You’ve got to have kids. Kids are important to a woman because they actually give an extra training to a woman, to be a mother.”
According to you, unmarried women are a “problem in society.” And according to you, a woman should have kids (they are “important”), in order for that woman to get “an extra training.”
I cannot speak for the other organisations, but that is not what Sonke stands for. Sonke believes that everyone can play a positive role in society, everyone old and young, of all races, across the full spectra of sexuality, of gender and of physical sex.
Sonke believes that all people should be free to choose who they have sex with, have children with, and have romantic relationships with. This includes the freedom to choose not to have sex, not to have children, not to be in one, or many, relationship/s. Sonke also believes that women do not require “extra training”, whatever that is, and that a woman is no less of a woman if she is not a mother, or is not in a relationship.
In South Africa today, lesbians are killed for not conforming to the patriarchal ideal of womanhood: married to, or in a relationship with a man, and bearing children for him. Your comments condemning single and childless women feed directly into the culture of violence against lesbians. It is bad enough that some men in South Africa’s feel they need to ‘correct’ lesbians to fit their narrow-minded view of women. Naming single childless women of all sexual orientations as a “problem” will surely not do anything to reduce violence. When this sentiment comes from someone as powerful as you, it reinforces the idea that there is something horribly wrong with women who choose not to have children. Men do not have the right to limit the choices that a woman can make about her own life.
We call on you to reaffirm the unambiguous commitments to gender equality and women’s rights that you made on Women’s Day. The anti-women comments attributed to you are starkly at odds with those pronouncements.
Yours in equality, freedom and human rights,
Londiwe Gamedze
Sonke Gender Justice