16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children

Many hoped that the lifting of apartheid would herald a better future for the majority of women in South Africa, easing their struggles and opening pathways to equality. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Many women remain excluded from the social, political and economic mainstream, grappling daily with the persistent threat of violence and abuse. The government, once a symbol of liberation, has often fallen short in addressing their oppression.

As South Africa embarks on its annual campaign against violence towards women and children, we must confront the shadows and vestiges of our nation’s history. This painful legacy has profoundly shaped gender dynamics in contemporary South Africa and continues to fuel the cycles of violence that plague our society.

South Africa continues to grapple with unacceptably high levels of violence, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner aggression, femicide, workplace harassment, and digital abuse. These forms of violence are compounded by the pervasive injustices and exclusions inherent to systemic inequality. To address this, we must necessarily and actively challenge dominant colonial, gendered, and violent discourses while fostering counter-narratives that amplify the voices and actions of survivors and their communities, enabling resistance, agency, solidarity, and healing, while supporting multi-pronged anti-violence initiatives that include inter-sectoral collaboration, community-based involvement, and the privileging of knowledge systems and practices deemed meaningful and appropriate by communities themselves. It is through such comprehensive and inclusive efforts that we can hope to dismantle the violence that perpetuates harm and work towards sustainable, transformative change. It is equally vital for us in South Africa to forge partnerships and draw lessons from other critical and liberatory movements across the continent and globally in the fight against gender-based violence. Simultaneously, we call for genuine socio-economic liberation that disrupts the entrenched status quo, where women and children disproportionately bear the brunt of poverty, inequality, and multiple intersecting disparities.

During the 16 Days of Activism, we are reminded that countless institutions and organisations dedicated to supporting women and children in distress are shutting their doors due to dwindling funding. These organisations continue to serve communities tirelessly, often without government support, remaining passionate advocates for change while facing immense financial challenges. It is therefore imperative that we support and pay tribute to these organisations that strive to serve women and girls and support their liberation from violence, oppression, and exploitation.

One such organisation is The Cradle of Hope in the West of Krugersdorp. For 18 years, this independent social upliftment and community development organisation, with its core focus on assisting women and children, has been a sanctuary and support hub for destitute, vulnerable, and abused women – many of whom are survivors of domestic violence, sexual trauma, or human trafficking. The Cradle of Hope provides a safe refuge for up to 30 women and their children, who come from all corners of South Africa. Many arrive in the dead of night, often with little more than the clothes on their backs, bearing physical and emotional scars, fearful and traumatised, where they are met with compassion, support, safety and care. With 15 active programmes, The Cradle of Hope directly impacts the lives of more than 2 000 marginalised adults and children every day, offering essential assistance to those in desperate need. More than just a shelter, it is a space of compassion, love, kindness, and care, dedicated to rebuilding lives and fostering futures rooted in healing and agency.

To learn more about The Cradle of Hope and explore ways to support their vital work, please visit their website at www.thecradleofhope.org, call their offices at 076 262 0452, or email them at information@thecradleofhope.org.

BE THE DIFFERENCE!

– PsySSA Decolonising Psychology Division