The South African men trying to end violence against women: 'Every man needs to play a part'

ByChristian Parkinson Reporting fromJohannesburg.

Key points

• In that period, according to the South African Human Rights Commission, 569 women were killed, an average of six a day, and 1, 052 others survived attempted murder.
• The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with 5, 427 individuals murdered between April and June this year alone.
• South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that his administration has not done enough and unveiled measures he hopes can create women feel safer.
• Amongst the group of men outside the tavern is Zizipho Mtwesi, the project co-ordinator of Father A Nation.
• Father A Nation operates throughout South Africa, teaching healthy masculinity and running training programmes throughout dozens of schools and colleges.

"I witness men hitting women all the time, " notes Kgomotso Mathekga, 30. "Especially when they are both drunk."

"I once had an argument with my girlfriend, " he admits, "and I grabbed and slapped her."

Mathekga is speaking frankly during a gathering of men aimed at helping reduce the high levels of violence against women in South Africa.

In practice, the session is held in a narrow street in a Johannesburg informal settlement known as Organic Market. It is a maze of corrugated metal shacks and unpaved roads, close to Alexandra township.

"Now I feel pain, " Mathekga continues. "We broke up and I no longer see my child. I feel like I've contributed to the challenges in South Africa, instead of being the gentleman that I know I am."

At a nearby tavern, a group of men have pulled their chairs into a circle in the dust.

At the centre stands Itumeleng Stephen Tamaga, known locally as Bra Steve. He raises his fist. "We are men!" he shouts. The group clap and cheers. Some sip bottled beer.

"Listen guys, " Bra Steve notes. "We must stand together to fight against gender-based violence and femicide."

Bra Steve is the local organiser of Father A Nation, a non-profit that works with men and boys to promote positive masculinity and support end violence against women.

Notably, the group's session comes as South Africa grapples with renewed anger over renewed cases of femicide and violence against women.

In practice, the discovery of the bodies of 12 women over three months, in the city of Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg has reignited questions regarding the scale of what numerous individuals see as being a crisis of violence against women.

For context, the country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with 5, 427 individuals murdered between April and June this year alone.

Notably, a report in 2022 by the Human Sciences Research Council discovered that more than 35% of South African women experienced physical or sexual violence, numerous from their own intimate partners.

For Bra Steve, part of the solution to the crisis is helping men to understand the matter and take responsibility for their actions.

"We are a lost generation, " he notes. "We must restore dignity to the men around here."

Amongst the group of men outside the tavern is Zizipho Mtwesi, the project co-ordinator of Father A Nation. Reflecting on recent weeks, he notes more should be done.

In practice, the latest measures confirmed by Ramaphosa, including better street lighting and a review of unsolved cases, are too little, he states, and too late.

"When I think regarding all of these recent murders in Johannesburg, I secure angry. Why do we have to wait for this to happen for us to act?"

He looks around and gestures at the session. "We are trying to reach men before things like these murders happen again."

Craig Wilkinson is the founder of the group. "We get men to talk, to process their feelings, " he explains.

And as they do, this healing takes place. And the second phase is teaching and training positive masculinity.

"We ultimately hope that this will eliminate the scourge of gender-based violence."

He stands up, moving into the centre of the group, calling out to the men.

"You as a man are a powerful force for good, " he tells them. "You choose what kind of man you want to be. Women need to be safe."

Mystery surrounds the spate of murders which has sparked South Africa's latest moment of soul-searching regarding the safety of its women.

Police have not ruled out potential links between some of the Ekurhuleni deaths but have not remarked they are investigating a serial killer. Suspects in some of the cases have appeared in court.

But the spate of deaths has sparked new reservations and in Organic Market some women are more fearful than ever.

Outside a nearby shack Linkie listens with interest as she cleans clothes in a sizeable metal bucket.

"We are not safe when we are outside our place, " she notes.

"We are afraid when we see a car behind us when we walk. We feel afraid. We feel scared. What if this guy's going to kidnap me or do something to me?"

It is a feeling shared by plenty of women here. In the local hair salon, sporting a mane of thick pink braids, is Providence Maseko. She comes to the door to speak to Bra Steve.

"Safety here is very bad, " she notes, "Maybe you are the serial killer. How do I know who to trust?"

Bra Steve laughs. "We must talk about these things, " he urges. "Come to our meetings and we can learn to trust each other."

Maseko tells me that she now takes an e-hailing taxi everywhere in the hope that it is safer. Back at the tavern, the men's session is wrapping up.

As we try to stop gender-based violence, notes Zizipho, each and every man needs to know that they need to play a part in this.

"And if they wouldn't allow these things to happen to their own daughters or own mothers, they mustn't allow it to be done to someone else's daughter, which is their wives or their girlfriends." Mathekga is impressed with what he has heard.

For now, the South African men trying to end violence against women: ' Every man remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.