Rape is rape no matter who the victim is
Protestors met outside the Wynberg Magistrate Courthouse on the 7th June, 2012 where the case of Ntsiki Tyatyeka, of Nyanga, was convened. Tyatyeka, who openly identified as a lesbian, disappeared on 6 September, 2010 and was last seen walking into the home of a neighbour. To the horror of her friends and family, Tyatyeka’s remains […]
Civil society calls for permanent appointment of Black Woman Judge on the Constitutional Court bench
Civil Society organisations are calling for the permanent appointment of Judge Mandisa Maya who currently sits as an Acting Judge on the Constitutional Court bench. The Judicial Service Commission (‘JSC’) will be interviewing 4 shortlisted candidates for one vacant position in the Constitutional Court on 9 June 2012, in Johannesburg. Of the 4 shortlisted candidates, […]
Dramatic events at the NCOP meeting in Parliament
The rural people who spoke out against the TCB during the provincial hearings won a major victory on Wednesday when the Provinces submitted their negotiating mandates. Four provinces rejected the Bill outright, namely the Eastern Cape, North West, Gauteng and Western Cape. The mandate of the Eastern Cape states that, “no amount of amendments and […]
Hear the People. Scrap the Bill.
The Alliance for Rural Democracy celebrates the resounding rejection of the Traditional Courts Bill by many provinces at yesterday’s sitting of the National Council of Provinces’ Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development. However, we reject the decision by the Committee to re-open the public hearing process. We call for the drafting of an entirely […]
Ground Up reporters on the mess that is The Maitland Refugee Reception Centre
Sonke intern, Veronica Washaya, is currently participating in the six-month Ground Up training programme to develop community journalists. This week, the Ground Up team has published a series of articles on the Maitland Refugee Centre exposing abuse and corruption and highlighting the extremely difficult circumstances that refugees face. The top featured story on the Ground […]
Joint Submission to Porfolio Committe on Sexual Offences Amendment Act
Sonke has joined UWC and UCT in a joint submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development on the Sexual Offences Act Amendment Bill. The Amendment Bill proposes appropriate penalties for particular sexual offences, following the findings in the Prince case that portions of the Act were not clear enough. The Joint […]
The Alliance for Rural Democracy calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Traditional Courts Bill
The Alliance for Rural Democracy calls upon all provincial legislatures to vote against the Traditional Courts Bill in the lead-up to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) meeting on 30 May in Cape Town. We contend that the provincial legislatures can come to no other conclusion following the public hearings held in the provinces over […]
North West Rejects Traditional Courts Bill 2012
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Traditional Affairs conducted public hearings on the Traditional Courts Bill 2012, attended by 1200 people across the four districts of the province. Amongst those who attended included representatives from Legal Resource Centre, NGOs, community based forums and the provincial and national Department of Justice […]
Encounters Screening Times – Can’t Just Fold Your Arms
Can’t Just Fold Your Arms – 52 mins Please do join us at one of the following screenings in June. Cape Town Screenings 10 June, Sunday, at the Fugard Theatre – 5.45pm Film and Q&A with director William Nessen 13 June, Wednesday, at NuMetro Waterfront – 6.30pm Film and Panel Discussion Johannesburg Screenings 18 June, Monday, at NuMetro Hyde Park – […]
Invitation to MenEngage Africa Training Course
Sonke Gender Justice is offering, as part of its MenEngage Africa programme, a training course to support the development, launch and operation of a new MenEngage Africa Training Initiative. Call for applications coming soon! For more information, download the invitation.
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings in the North West
The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the legislative process, public hearings on the Bill will take place in the North West province as follows: 16 May: 09h00 at Ratshidi Hall, […]
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings continue in the Eastern Cape
The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the legislative process, public hearings on the Bill will take place in the Eastern Cape as follows: 17 May: 10am at Matatiele Town Hall, […]
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings continue in KwaZulu-Natal
The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the legislative process, public hearings on the Bill will take place in KwaZulu-Natal as follows: 16 May: 10am at Inkosi Gumede Hall, uMkhanyakude 17 […]
Sonke at Albert Schweitzer Hall on Panel “When Men Stop to Fight: Masculinities in Post-Conflict Societies”
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings in Limpopo
The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the legislative process, public hearings on the Bill will take place in Limpopo province as follows: 16 May: 09h00 Thulamela, Porche Village Lodge, Vhembe […]
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings in the Free State
The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the legislative process, public hearings on the Bill will take place in the Free State province as follows: 14 May: 09h00 at Tshiya Education […]
Sonke shares a panel at the 2012 UN CSW with Ministers Xingwana and Sotyu
Sonke Documentary to feature in Encounters Film Fest
The film, Can’t Just Fold Your Arms, will air at the Encounters Film Festival in June on three screens around the country. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Sonke to tell our story and to educate people about our work engaging men and boys for gender equality. We’re particularly keen to know if the story is […]
Celebrating the launch of Nobel Women’s Initiative campaign to stop rape and gender violence in conflict
May 9th, 2012: Press Statement by members of the UN Secretary General’s Network of Men Leaders for immediate release to celebrate launch of Nobel Women’s Initiative International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict. As members of the United Nations Secretary General’s Network of Men Leaders we pledge our support to the Nobel […]
Capacity Building with Trocaire Organisations in Malawi
From 27 February – 2 March 2012, Sonke Gender Justice successfully conducted an Organisational Capacity Assessment Audit to four Trocaire-Malawi partner organisations. This five day visit reviewed existing capacity and gaps on understanding of gender, masculinities and engaging men in each of the local partner organisations by spending time with management and staff by doing […]
Traditional Courts Bill public hearings in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng
The next round of public hearings on the Traditional Courts Bill are taking place between 8 and 11 May in KZN and Gauteng. The Traditional Courts Bill sparked an outcry in 2008 when tabled in the National Assembly (NA). The Bill was reintroduced in the National Council of Provinces this January. As part of the […]
Civil Society calls Head of Public Diplomacy to retract statement regarding Braamfischerville rape
The undersigned organisations welcome the news that on Wednesday the 25th, Clayson Monyela withdrew his tweet of last week that he prayed the perpetrators of the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl, would “find like-minded monsters in jail to give them a taste of their own medicine.” His withdrawal – over Twitter – stated, “As a father, […]
Sonke’s verbal submission at Western Cape TCB hearing
Honourable chairperson, members of your committee and peace loving people of our country!Thank you for affording me an opportunity to make this submission. My name is Patrick Godana and my clan name is Gatyeni, therefore I qualify to speak on this matter. I will share some of the experiences a colleague and I encountered when […]
Get details of TCB hearings via cellphone
Details of the Traditional Courts Bill Hearings are being published on as they become available. However, if you are seeking up to date information you can also dial *120*147# from your cellphone. You will be presented with a list of provinces for which we have up to date information, Reply with the number of the […]
