KwaZulu-Natal stands together to combat gender-based violence and femicide

In a monumental show of unity, various sectors in KwaZulu-Natal marched from King Dinuzulu Park to Durban City Hall on Thursday against the rampant issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) that threatens the safety and well-being of women and children in the region. 

This is a clarion call, urging all men and every member of society to reject and put an end to #SilwisananeChilo in communities.

Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli emphasised the significance of this coalition, which included spiritual leaders, the taxi industry, civil society, business leaders, and non-governmental organisations, all expressing a shared commitment to tackle this devastating issue head-on.

“We are saying no to gender-based violence in the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ntuli said. 

At the forefront of this alarming conversation is the disturbing prevalence of GBV within the province. 

“This scourge is quite prevalent in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. In particular, eThekwini is leading in terms of the statistics. UMgungundlovu is also having high statistics. Ugu and Ilembe, they are all leading in the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ntuli said. 

“It’s unfortunate that some victims report cases to the police but later withdraw in exchange for material goods or money. 

“Hence, we call on parents to stop negotiating whenever their daughter is a victim of gender-based violence because we’ll only be able, in fact, to end this gender-based violence if the perpetrators know that there are consequences.”

Ntuli said another factor was the issue of drug and alcohol abuse and the behavioural patterns of men in KZN. 

“We are making a call that all men must stand up and say ‘not in our name’. And the women of this province must stand together and say ‘not in our time’. So that we really ensure that women and children are safe.” 

KZN Provincial Chaplain Pastor Lungi M Magwaza said the religious sector consulted with the interfaith chairs from Ugu, uMgungundlovu, Ilembe, and eThekwini Metro districts.

She led the meeting, calling neighbouring districts to answer Premier Ntuli’s call to stand against GBV and voice it in public. 

“Let people hear us, see us marching in the streets of the City of Durban. We wanted people to see that the religious sector is also tired of seeing people being killed, women being raped, children being raped and even killed,” Magwaza said. 

“We are the ones who are called for counselling to families when someone is raped, when a child is raped, when someone has been killed, and they’ve been found on the street. We are called as pastors to come for counselling, to come for prayers, and to lead the funeral proceedings.”

Magwaza urged civil society and community structures to unite. She said many people are against GBV; therefore, if they stood together, with one voice, she believed they could destroy the evil with the good. 

Bathobekile Shange said they are against GBVF and urged men to stop killing women and children. They hope all men, when they see women, love and protect them like a sister and a mother. 

“Please stop killing us. It is enough,” Shange said. 

She said love is not abusive. If a person abuses you in a relationship, you leave that person because they are not good for you. 

“This thing of enduring causes anger and leads others to kill,” Shange said. 

Sylvia Nota said she detests GBVF because it is painful. After all, their children are dying.

“To end GBVF, leaders should stand up and unite, and not fight each other,” Nota said. 

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