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Putting an end to abuse of women and children

The average abused woman leaves her husband 37 times before she divorces him. After every lame excuse, every bunch of flowers and every empty promise, she takes him back again. And again. And again. Why? Women's rights activists, social workers and clinical psychologists agree: abused women are kept in abusive relationships by a combination of fear, emotional or financial dependence, low self-esteem or a false sense of loyalty.

Going the extra mile

What do you do when you have a municipality that owes R56-million on its water bill and a company threatening to cut off water to 500 000 people? If you are Matjhabeng executive mayor Mathabo Leeto, you crack your whip, get it paid and avoid political embarrassment and disaster for your constituents.

Taking a stand against injustice

On May 19 1955, six brave women gathered the support of thousands of other women and marched in protest against the Senate Bill and the Separate Representation of Voters Act, which would finally remove the so-called coloured voters from the common voters' roll. They wore black sashes, a symbol of mourning over the death of their constitutional rights.

Guerrillas in our midst

Frida Kahlo, Lee Krasner, Eva Hesse, Käthe Kollwitz and Gertrude Stein have all infiltrated or raided an art gallery or festival around the world to promote women and minorities -- or, at least, their alter egos, the Guerrilla Girls, have. This is a group of anonymous women who assume the identities of dead female artists and appear in public wearing gorilla masks.

Cracks in the ceiling

South Africa has taken huge steps in the past few years to increase the rights of women in the public and private sectors and to change patriarchal attitudes. Still many gender experts believe the battle is far from won and some critics believe that in some instances women are being left behind.