"Work it out..”, according to sources, this is what the police said to Karabo Mokoena who had opened a case of assault against her boyfriend [1]. One month later, she went missing and was found dead allegedly at the hands of the very same man. Like many other women and children, the institutions meant to protect Karabo effectively sent her to her death. Everyday women are killed, raped and brutalised, not by monsters, but the men with whom we share our beds, homes, workplaces, churches and streets. The men in our daily spaces. Across the country, thousands are raising their voices in outrage, saying this has to come to an end. Right now we have a real shot to take our collective outrage and call for Minister Shabangu to commit to the development of a National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence. Karabo Mokoena, Lerato Moloi, Bongeka Phungula and Popi Qwabe are just of few of the many who have been murdered in 2017 so far. We are tired of being killed, maimed and brutalised at the hands of men. We call for an end to this senseless violence unleashed on women’s bodies. We want effective justice now! Let's stand together and call for Minister Dlamini to commit to a National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). No more women must die on our watch. Violence against women has always been a serious problem in Mzansi. Recently there has been more coverage of gruesome rapes and murders everywhere in our country. From 3-year-old Courtney Pieters [2], who was raped and murdered by a family friend and tenant earlier this month, to the rape of elderly women in Willowvale [3] and recently the rape of Tambai Moloi, a lesbian from Soweto [4], it is clear that all women are at risk and it is a matter of "when" not "whether" it will happen. These cases, and the many more that occur each year, show that we are still a very long way from eradicating GBV in South Africa. This calls for everyone to stand together and demand that the Department of Women commit to a National Strategic Plan on GBV now. [1] http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/05/24/karabo-mokoenas-mother-warned-her-daughter-that-mantsoe-would_a_22106699/ [2]http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/courtney-pieters-was-raped-twice-before-being-murdered-court-hears-20170517 [3] http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eastern-cape-man-20-arrested-for-rape-of-woman-76-20170108 [4] http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2017/05/18/lerato-was-killed-by-people-she-knew-it-was-a-hate-crime The following organisations are part of the campaign as of August 2016: Sonke Gender Justice MOSAIC Amnesty International South Africa Centre for Sexuality AIDS and Gender People Opposing Women Abuse South African Care Workers Forum New World Foundation Access Chapter 2 Love 167 Thando Care Service and Development Centre Justice and Women TB/HIV Care Association Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce Centre for Human Rights Medecins Sans Frontieres South Africa Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme Treatment Action Campaign Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture World AIDS Campaign International Sekwele Centre for Social Reflection Greater Rape Intervention Programme People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty Gender Links Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation Women’s Legal Centre Pietermaritzburg Agency for Social Community Action Grassroot Soccer Gender, Health & Justice Research Unit South African Faith and Family Institute Tears Foundation Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust Sun of Joy Foundation Rock Girl Soul City NACOSA amandla.mobi

We make this call following Tshatha's appalling comments which were rape justifying, violent and wholly unacceptable in a society that claims to care about the equality, dignity and freedom of womxn. Written on his Facebook page on the 21st February 2017, and posted with a photo of two young womxn wearing what he identifies as clothes revealing their thighs. Find below a loose translation of his comment; "In the end people will say men are dogs despite that they are provoked by these legs (very loose translation). What women need to know is that when they're dressed like this men salivate and think of the bed (meaning sex). If you think that a man will think of marriage you'll never see that happening. These women are beautiful but the way they're dressed takes away their dignity." Tshatha's comments, which are reproduced verbatim above, briefly suggest that: (a) we should not crucify men who sexualise and violate womxn who wear clothes that show their thighs; (b) the sexualisation and violation of such womxn is justified because womxn should dress in a 'respectful manner' as no man would think about marrying them. Tshatha's comments must be understood in the context of the broader problem of rape culture in South Afrika. One in three womxn get raped every day in the country, and womxn are victims of daily sexual violence from men. Behind this scourge is culture of rape which manifests itself in (a) the entitlement that men like Tshatha have to women's bodies, and to dictating what womxn should and should not wear, (b) the blaming and shaming of rape victims based on the type of clothing they were wearing; and (c) the suggestion that rape is not caused by men's violence and lack of self-control but by womxn themselves because of how they dress. It is wholly unacceptable for public figures like Tshatha, fully aware of the scourge of rape in South Afrika and with access to millions of people, to make comments which justify and perpetuate this line of thinking. We note that the SABC has not released any statement to address this issue publicly. And that individual responses to emails suggest that the issue has not been taken seriously in response to the public outcry. The meek apology that Tshatha has published on his Facebook page since does not deal with the issue. ● None of them actually address the sexism in Tshatha's comments, and their indubitable effect in perpetuating rape culture. ● The response to an emailed complaint about this matter (which we have in our possession from the SABC) suggests that the comments were okay because they were Tshatha's 'personal opinions', and indicates that they would not have been a problem had these statements not 'implicated the mother brand'. We find it insensitive and distasteful that the SABC is more concerned about its brand than the dignity of womxn. ● Both the email response and Tshatha's meek apology suggest that the problem was not the substance of Tshatha's rape justifying comments but the wording he chose to make them. ● Tshatha's meek apology shows no honest regret over his statements but is merely concerned with apologising to those who were offended by his comments. It is clear that he otherwise still stands by his comments, and this is evidenced by the fact that he has not bothered to remove them. ● It is not clear what disciplinary measures the SABC has taken - particularly considering that Tshatha is a serial offender who has made numerous similar statements in the past. A quick perusal of his social media pages reveals a plethora of sexist, homophobic, transphobic and other discriminatory statements which make us wonder how Tshatha is still under the SABC's employ unless it associates with and approves it his bigotry. We draw the SABC's attention to its position as a public broadcaster, and to the fact that it is bound by the democratic values of equality and dignity expressed both in the Constitution, and the Broadcasting Act under which the SABC was established. We find the views of Tshatha, whose salary is paid by the same public which he has disrespected, inimical to these values, and in diametric opposition to the spirit, objects and purpose of of the SABC's mission. While we respect Tshatha's right to freedom of expression, we submit that this right is limited by the rights of others and does not extend to violence against womxn. We therefore call upon the SABC to immediately dismiss Tshatha from its employ, and to send a message that violence against womxn is not going to be tolerated. We further call upon all people to sign and widely distribute this petition, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to the dignity and freedom of womxn. Izwe Lethu! ✋

On 2 January 2017, a strong, beautiful and tenacious young woman, with a heart made only of gold, was taken from us. A bright light in the lives of all who knew her, this loving mother of three children, was brutally assaulted and killed by her husband in Westlake, Cape Town. This mother of three was allegedly stabbed in full view of the community by her husband and residents claim he had been abusive towards her. South Africa has a femicide rate five times higher than the global average. “Research proves that the chances of a woman being murdered by someone that she knows or is in an intimate relationship with are much higher than any other type of murder… Motives are often financial, adultery or a love-triangle, custody or a residential battle for children.” – Anni Hesselink. In the words of community leader Vusumzi Nelani “This is a very sad case. This is what happens to many women and if the court is lenient this abuse will continue so we want the court to take this case very serious.” (News24, 26/07/2017) Please take a few minutes to sign today if you can. There are witnesses and three vulnerable young children we need to protect!! If we want our voices against domestic violence to count, we need them to count in court too!! Please share this link for friends, family and colleagues to sign. Thank you very much.

Just recently, the body of 22-year-old LGBTQ activist Noluvo Swelindawo was found near the N2 highway in Driftsands, a community near Khayelitsha. She had been shot in an alleged hate crime. It is in this light this, and many other cases of ongoing hate crimes against the LGBTI community that we welcome Cabinet’s approval to publish the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill for public comment. The Bill tackles a number of highly complex issues that require consultation with those most affected by the changes - if it is to achieve its stated aims to prevent and combat deaths like Noluvo's - and a proper consultation process takes time. We have waited for many years for the public release of the bill, and it is of utmost importance that the public consultation period allows civil society and the public in general to thoroughly and meaningfully engage with the bill and its potentially far-reaching provisions. After it has taken government nearly four years to draft the Bill, it is alarming that the public has been given a mere five weeks (until 1 December 2016) with a short extension over the holiday season (to 31 January 2017) to comment thereon. If the purpose is to craft an effective bill, the state needs to commit to coordinate robust public engagement and undertake in a process of deep reflection to ensure that the bill that is passed is the best bill possible. The current timeline does allow us to attempt to reach this ideal. As such, we are calling on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to extend the deadline for public comment to the 30 June 2017. We further request clear and detailed information on DoJ’s plan for convening extensive public consultations with representatives from civil society, non-governmental and community-based organisations and interested individuals on the draft bill.

If our parents are robbed of their hard earned, blood sweat contribution to this administrators, then most children will loose their inheritance for education and livelihood. Remember this is not a grant but monies contributed by this employees, it is a day robbery of everything they would ever have to change the economy of their lives.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide. * This campaign by amandla.mobi is supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide. * This campaign by amandla.mobi is supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide. * This campaign by amandla.mobi is supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide. * This campaign by amandla.mobi is supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide.

We can improve service delivery and fight corruption in our Municipality by ensuring all Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) are public and easily accessible to all. Some politicians, officials and businesses are scared about transparency, but if they aren't doing anything wrong, what have they got to hide.