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Mail & Guardian

Gender Based Violence

latest news & developments
Living in fear: Women in Ekurhuleni continue to grapple with fear following a series of killings and growing concerns about safety.

Places women go to when there is nowhere safe

Shelters and advocacy groups warn that escaping abuse is only the first hurdle for survivors, who face severe housing shortages, financial instability, and lack of long-term…

A prayer run for Tsontso

A personal reflection on the daily fear, hypervigilance, and quiet acts of resistance experienced by women running alone in South Africa amid the ongoing femicide crisis.

Redirect: Danica De La Rey Jones is Tessa Ensler, a rising barrister who defends men accused of sexual assault and wins. She believes in the justice system until she is sexually assaulted. Photos: Quaid Jones

‘Prima Facie’ turns the spotlight on rape and the law

Suzie Miller's acclaimed one-woman play 'Prima Facie' arrives at Johannesburg's Market Theatre, delivering an urgent and searing critique of rape, consent, and the patriarchal…

Editorial: Enough GBV talk, it’s time to deliver

President Cyril Ramaphosa conceded that the state has failed to protect women from gender-based violence. Now, with strict new deadlines set for action, South Africans must hold…

Murder first or femicide? Ekurhuleni killings open debate over how cases should be understood

The discovery of 11 women's bodies in Ekurhuleni has sparked community fear and opened a debate on whether the cases should be investigated as isolated murders or viewed through…

Mudzinganyama granted R15 000 bail as NPA warns more charges possible

Businessman Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama has been granted R15 000 bail facing 10 charges, with the NPA warning that additional charges may follow as investigations proceed.

Ramaphosa orders GBV case crackdown

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a nationwide crackdown on unresolved murders, rapes, and sexual offences against women and children, setting strict deadlines for police,…

Ramaphosa orders urgent action as Ekurhuleni killings put GBVF response under scrutiny

Following the recent murders of women in Ekurhuleni, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced four decisive national measures to tackle gender-based violence, clear forensic…

Shadrack Sibiya remanded in custody

Suspended SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya remains remanded in custody as he faces charges including rape and human trafficking at the Randburg Magistrate's Court.

Big Man Syndrome: Black man with money threatens to shoot women who reject him, he is not different from the white policeman who shot men in Sharpeville for refusing to carry a pass.

Poor man with nothing but money

Following a shocking incident where a wealthy man threatened women at a Sandton restaurant after being rejected, Sandile Memela examines the toxic intersection of instant wealth,…

The killing of women is not a series of unconnected tragedies in South Africa

The viral confrontation in a Sandton restaurant powder room is not an isolated incident. Research reveals how deep-seated entitlement, misogyny, and systemic impunity underpin…

Global war on women through SA's eyes

With South Africa facing soaring femicide rates, the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York highlights the urgent need to address the global crisis and backlash against women's…

Ekurhuleni killings: ‘The onus cannot shift to women to keep themselves safe’

Following the discovery of nine women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni, gender-based violence advocates demand structural state action and systemic justice rather than placing the burden…

Beyond ‘Be Careful': Technology’s Place in Women’s Safety

Following tragic murders in Ekurhuleni, this analysis explores why society must stop restricting women's movements and instead leverage systemic reform alongside wearable…

To stop violent men, look at the boys they were

To end South Africa's crisis of violence against women, research shows we must look at the boy before the violent man and intervene where childhood trauma, poverty, and…