Dean Peacock, Sonke’s Founding Director and Ashoka Fellow chronicles Sonke’s work
Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEXyzYjphdM
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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). […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
