Sonke Gender Justice is outraged and condemns the act of the South African police officer for coercing her son to have sex with her
We call for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to take definitive action. A young boy from Limpopo was coerced into having sex with his police officer mom. The horrific accident was filmed and circulated on social media recently. The boy has been sent to a place of safety and is undergoing counseling. According to the […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls for prioritisation of the safety of sex workers
Sonke Gender Justice is deeply saddened and outraged at the killings of six sex workers last weekend in central Johannesburg. The six decomposing bodies were discovered inside a panel beater’s shop by a security guard, after he noticed a strange smell coming from the building. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, made a commitment […]
Sonke Gender Justice extends condolences to the family of Zenizole Vena, who died at the age of 15, and demands accountability
Sonke Gender Justice extends its heartfelt condolences to Zenizole Vena’s family and friends. We are deeply disturbed to learn of the death of yet another young person as a result of violence and the negligence of state institutions. According to reports, Vena died in the arms of Sindiswa Ntantiso inside the Motherwell police station’s community […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls for justice for the death of Mahsa Amini
Ms Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman died in the hands of morality police last week. She was visiting the Iranian capital with her family when she was detained on Tuesday by the morality police because she was not wearing “improper” headscarf in public. The police unit is responsible for enforcing the Islamic republic’s strict dress […]
Sonke Gender Justice condemns the inappropriate statements made by Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen over the past week
Steenhuisen referred to his ex-wife as “roadkill” on MacG’s podcast. When MacG posed the question, “what is roadkill?” and he answered, “sounds a lot like my ex-wife.” Furthermore, in response to the #CeleMustGo billboard, Bheki Cele said if the DA was serious about gender-based violence, they could have dealt with Steenhuisen because he abused a woman […]
Sonke Gender Justice appalled to learn about the alleged sexually harassment allegations levelled against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana
Enock Godongwana is the latest prominent political figure to face sexual misconduct allegations. The minister allegedly sexually abused a massage therapist at Kruger National Park, according to reports. Sonke Gender Justice is outraged by allegations of sexual harassment allegedly committed by South Africa’s Finance Minister, Enock Godongwana. The allegations are incredibly disheartening and should be […]
Sonke Gender Justice strongly condemns the threats directed towards the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI)
It is disheartening to note that SERI, a public interest law firm has been forced to temporarily close its doors following threats that began on Wednesday to injure their employees and burn down their offices. This is after SERI settled a case against the removal of informal traders from the De Villiers precinct in the […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls on the leadership of the SAPS to take responsibility for the incompetence of its members at the Madeira police station in Stutterheim
South Africa watched with horror the level of incompetence demonstrated by police on a GBV related matter caught on camera in Stutterheim. Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is disappointed by the insensitivity and incompetence of the South African Police Services (SAPS) showed in a video clip in the public domain. On the 25th of May 2022, […]
Sonke sends its heartfelt condolences to Namhla Mtwa’s family and calls for justice
Sonke Gender Justice extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Singa Namhla Ntwa, a young woman from the Eastern Cape who was shot dead on 21 April 2022. Namhla Mtwa, 34, was shot nine times in her car as she entered her home in Sidwada, in Mthata in the Eastern Cape. No […]
Tackling a global crisis at grassroots level
Communities are the bedrock of society, they hold the power to influence a change to the status quo as it relates to violent and unjust treatment of women, girls, differently abled persons and members of the lgbtqi+ community. Until we empower, educate and seek to redress the gender stereotypes within our communities, we will not […]
Sonke Gender Justice extends its condolences to the family of Hillary Gardee, who was found dead in Mpumalanga
Sonke Gender Justice is saddened to learn about the passing of Hillary Gardee, 28, daughter of former EFF secretary-general and lawyer Godrich Gardee, who disappeared four days ago. We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Gardee family, the Gardee circle of relatives, and all those who knew Hillary. “Information is still coming in, […]
Sonke Gender Justice congratulates Yolanda Dyantyi on winning her case against Rhodes University
Sonke Gender Justice congratulates Yolanda Dyantyi and Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI-rights) on winning their case against Rhodes University on the expulsion of Ms. Dyantyi from the university. The Supreme Court of Appeal has set aside the guilty judgement by Rhodes University with costs. It has been a long five years for Yolanda […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls for a political settlement to end Ukraine and Russia conflict
Sonke Gender Justice calls for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and encourages a peaceful settlement between the two countries. Russia launched its invasion on Ukraine on 24 February 2022 following the Russian President, Vladimir Putin announcement of “a special military operation” against Ukraine. The decision was based on the recognition of the […]
Sonke Gender Justice commends the removal of Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC, from office following allegations of sexual assault
Sonke Gender Justice welcomes Premier Alan Winde’s decision to remove Albert Fritz from his position. This comes after an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, allegedly against young women recruited to work in his office, was completed. We learned earlier this year that Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC at the time, […]
Sonke Gender Justice launches its #UnderTheBlankets campaign:refugees’ and migrants’ access to sexual health in South Africa
In the run up to Valentine’s Day next week, Sonke Gender Justice is launching a new campaign on migrants’ and refugees’ rights to access sexual and reproductive health services in South Africa. Our #UnderTheBlankets campaign encourages anyone – South African or not – to visit a webpage and read about how they can access government sexual and reproductive health services […]
Sonke calls for the Western Cape Democratic Alliance (DA) to expedite Albert Fritz’ disciplinary process
Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is outraged by the latest allegations that another powerful man and politician is involved in a sexual harassment scandal. Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC at the time, resigned after employees leveled serious allegations of sexual assault against him. Sexual assault stems from harmful power dynamics, gender stereotypes, norms, and attitudes that […]
Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa to participate in the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA)
Sonke Gender Justice, in collaboration with MenEngage Africa and Southern Africa AIDS Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), will host 2 (two) high-level side events at the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). This crossbreed (in-person and virtual). The high-level side events will take place on December 07 and […]
MenEngage Africa observes 16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10th, Human Rights Day. This is an opportunity for us all to reaffirm our commitment to ending gender-based violence and hold one another accountable. […]
We mourn the loss of our colleague Khopotso Bodibe
It is with much sadness that Sonke communicates the loss of Khopotso Bodibe who passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Khopotso joined Sonke as a Communications Associate in Sonke’s Communications and Strategic Information Unit in 2015. In 2018, he was promoted to RPU – Media & Communications Specialist. Khopotso spent 10 years as a […]
The slow progress in the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol has had negative consequences on woman and girls
Since its adoption in 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, has contributed in shifting the trajectory on the promotion and protection of woman’s rights in Africa. Despite its progressive protections, to date, only 42 countries have signed […]
Government needs to address the structural and socio-economic issues underlying the unrest and make provisions for the implementation of the basic income grant as a matter of urgency
Sonke Gender Justice condemns the latest escalation of violence and indiscriminate looting happening in various parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. According to reports, as of 13 July 2021 the number of fatalities had risen to 72 and police have made 1234 arrests. The myriad of under lying causes reflect deep socio-economic frustrations that have not […]
The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
We are deeply concerned by the senseless police brutality and state-sanctioned violence in eSwatini. The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls on the South African government to unequivocally stand with the people of Palestine and halt all diplomatic ties with Israel
The world is once again witnessing another cycle of violence and destruction of Palestine and its people at the hands of the racist Israeli state and for this reason, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is calling on the South African government to unequivocally stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and halt all diplomatic ties […]
LHR and Sonke Gender Justice to Challenge Failure to Re-Open Cape Town Refugee Reception Office
On 12 May 2021, the Western Cape High Court will hear the matter of Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town (“Scalabrini”) v Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) with regard to the DHA’s consistent failure to comply with court orders to reopen the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (“CTRRO”). Scalabrini seeks to compel the re-opening of the […]
