Gender Links (Johannesburg)

News from a group promoting SADC's Protocol on Gender and Development.

November 30, 2012

South Africa: Accused of Being a Witch

In January 2012 I was in Soweto, South Africa and received a call from my children that finally the community had burned down my house. The reason is because they were accusing me... Read more »
South Africa: Defending My Mother From an Abusive Man

Well, I do not know when it all started but I think it all started when I was a young child. I recall my parents always having arguments and physical fights when they were drunk. Read more »
South Africa: Community No Longer Safe Haven for Me

I, Mary Mangena lived in Masoma Village with my family. The village is quite small and people know each other very well. In 2010, the village experienced many deaths and the... Read more »

Zambia: Media Part of the Solution in Fight Against GBV

"I doubt that I would tell my story to the media if I were a victim of gender-based violence (GBV). The media would portray me as someone who asked for the abuse rather than... Read more »
Southern Africa: SADC Gender Protocol 2012 Barometer - Botswana

Botswana has made remarkable progress against the targets of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development set for 2015. Read more »
Africa: When It Happens to Another Woman, It Happens to You Too

One Saturday afternoon, I decided to take a walk alone. Having previously been accompanied everywhere I went by my mum or sister or nanny, I reveled in my newfound freedom to... Read more »
Zimbabwe: Religion and Culture Central to Ending GBV

Every two or three months, Rudo and her husband Tobias part with either a goat or two chickens as a fine for their violently explosive marriage. Read more »
Lesotho: Raped By a Ruthless Man

My name is Makhokolotso Metsing and I live in Thaba-Tseka. I am an orphan and I was living with my grandparents from my father's side. They were taking really good care of me and... Read more »

Lesotho: Lesotho - Abuse At School

Teachers are supposed to be like our parents, they should look after us at school because that is where we spend most of our lives. More than at our homes even. Surprisingly, some... Read more »
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe - Stop Workplace Sexual Harassment

Men's domination of women has a lengthy history. Women have long been assigned laborious and arduous tasks such as cultivating the fields and child rearing, while men were mostly... Read more »
South Africa: South Africa - Break the Silence of Cross Border GBV

Sixteen year old Amina* never thought that she would ever be raped in her life and let alone by thirteen men. Today, she is traumatised by what she went through when she tried to... Read more »

Lesotho: Sexual Harassment a Reality in Universities [column]

Maseru, 28 November: I will never forget the excitement I had of going to university and enrolling for an accounting degree. Little did I know that there would be more challenges... Read more »

Southern Africa: Alliance Calls for an End to the War at Home

As the Sixteen Days of Activism kicks off, the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance calls on all sectors, especially government authorities at all levels, faith communities and... Read more »
South Africa: Always Scared After Rape

I am a 22-year-old woman. On 31 May 2012, I was coming from Levubu to collect money from my mother's younger sister to buy some food. I took a taxi to Zwikwengani. When I got to... Read more »
Swaziland: My Worst Nightmare Ever [opinion]

I am a young girl from Timbutini in Manzini. I grew up without either of my parents. They both passed away when I was very young. My elder sister and brother were looking after us,... Read more »
South Africa: Young Girls, Never Fall for Rich Men [opinion]

My name is Nomancina Zombodze*, throughout my life, I have experienced so many bad things. Read more »

South Africa: Peace in the Home, Peace in the Community [analysis]

The Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign that runs annually from 25 November to 10 December is this year running under the banner "from peace in the home to... Read more »
South Africa: Multi-Pronged Approach Needed to Reduce Gender-Based Violence

Patriarchal norms and attitudes including those that excuse or legitimate the use of violence are driving the alarming rates of gender based violence (GBV) in South Africa. This is... Read more »
Southern Africa: Witchcraft - a Frightening Face of GBV [opinion]

On Friday last week, my colleagues and I had a heated debate in the office about whether witchcraft exists or does not. This came - in the wake of a newspaper report in one of the... Read more »

South Africa: Accused of Being a Witch

In January 2012 I was in Soweto, South Africa and received a call from my children that finally the community had burned down my house. The reason is because they were accusing me... Read more »

Zambia: SADC Gender Protocol 2012 Barometer - Zambia [opinion]

The Zambia 2012 Gender Protocol Barometer is the fourth annual tracking report of the country's performance against the 28 targets of the Southern African Development Community... Read more »
Mauritius: War at Home - Mauritius Country Report [opinion]

About a quarter (24%) of women in Mauritius have experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime including partner and non-partner violence. An almost similar... Read more »

Swaziland: Swaziland - Urgent Action Needed to Boost Women in Decision-Making

Gender Links (GL) is calling on the Government of Swaziland to institute a legislated quota to increase the representation of women in all areas of politics and decision-making... Read more »

Zimbabwe: Africa - No Independence Celebrations Until Women's Bodies Are Free [opinion]

The recent sex video scandal involving 20-year old Iris Kaingu in Zambia has shown that patriarchy is alive and well in Africa. Zambian media and social media platforms went abuzz... Read more »

Swaziland: Swaziland - The HIV and Gender Based Violence Nexus

"I would calm her down whenever we had an argument by telling her that she is my wife and the other women are just one-night stands." Read more »

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