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Al Jazeera
3 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
African manhood is broken – and it's costing women their lives
On May 25, Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old woman from South Africa, went on a date with a man she had recently met. Less than two hours later, she was dead. Her half-naked body was found by the roadside in Lombardy West, a suburb north of Johannesburg. It showed signs of severe trauma and bruising. Investigators concluded that she had been murdered elsewhere and dumped at the scene. Her brutal and senseless killing led to a wave of grief and outrage on social media. Days later, a family spokesperson revealed that Mongale – a master's student at the University of the Witwatersrand – had once worked as a journalist. She left the profession seven years ago due to the emotional toll of reporting on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Her family said Mongale had grown increasingly anxious about her own vulnerability to male violence. In particular, the 2017 murder of 22-year-old Karabo Mokoena haunted her. Mokoena was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, who then burned her body beyond recognition and buried the remains in open grassland in Lyndhurst – a suburb just kilometres from where Mongale's body was found. Despite her conscious efforts to avoid Mokoena's fate, Mongale ultimately became what she had feared most: another name added to the long and growing list of South African women murdered by men. At her funeral on June 1, her mother, Keabetswe Mongale, said her daughter had tried desperately to fight off her attacker. 'When I saw her at the government mortuary, I could see that my daughter fought. She fought until her nails broke,' she said. Her devastating death serves as a stark reminder that women and girls across South Africa continue to face an existential threat from gender-based violence, despite years of government promises and reforms. On May 24, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill establishing the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The body is mandated to provide leadership and coordination in the fight against GBVF. While it appeared to be a step forward, it did not represent a transformative policy shift. This is not the first such initiative. In 2012, then-Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe launched the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence, with a similar mandate to coordinate national anti-GBV efforts. More than a decade later, with yet another council in place, GBVF crimes continue. In November 2023, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa released the country's first national study on GBVF. It found that the persistence of gender-based violence is rooted in 'deeply ingrained societal norms and structures that perpetuate male dominance and reinforce gender hierarchies … leading to female subordination, systemic inequalities, and violence against women'. The destructive effect of entrenched patriarchy is undeniable. In South Africa, a woman is murdered every three hours. That is approximately 8 women a day. One study estimates that around 7.8 million women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence. While women of all races and backgrounds are affected, Black women face higher rates of GBVF – an enduring legacy of apartheid and its structural inequalities. This crisis is not unique to South Africa. The terror faced by women and girls is a continent-wide phenomenon. In November 2024, the United Nations published its report Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides, revealing that Africa had the world's highest rate of partner-related femicide that year. Kenya stands out for its staggering figures. Between September 2023 and December 2024, the country recorded more than 7,100 cases of sexual and gender-based violence. These included the murders of at least 100 women by male acquaintances, relatives, or intimate partners in just four months. Among the victims was Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympian and mother of two, who competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Games. On September 5, 2024, she died in Eldoret, Kenya, from severe burns after her former partner doused her in petrol and set her alight during a domestic dispute. He himself later died in a hospital from his injuries. The Kenyan government later recognised GBVF as the most pressing security challenge facing the country — a belated but crucial move. On May 26, Kenya's National Gender and Equality Commission noted that the surge in GBVF crimes was driven by 'a complex interplay of cultural, social, economic, and legal factors'. Patriarchal traditions continue to fuel inequality and legitimise violence, while harmful practices such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and dowry-related violence further endanger women's lives. Economic hardship and women's financial dependence only deepen their vulnerability. Across the continent, we are witnessing a dangerous resurgence of archaic patriarchal norms. The COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 further exposed the scale of the crisis. Since then, countless behavioural change campaigns have been launched, but they have largely failed. This is no surprise. According to Afrobarometer data from November 2023, nearly 48 percent of all Africans believe domestic violence is a private matter, not a criminal offence. The uncomfortable truth is that many African men, regardless of education or economic status, do not prioritise the safety or rights of women and girls. On International Women's Day last year, South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi said it plainly: 'Men are not doing enough.' Indeed, many continue to uphold harmful customs such as child marriage and remain disengaged from efforts to protect women. Years of empty rhetoric have led to a growing body count. It is time for African men to take full ownership of this crisis and commit to radical change. They must reject cultural practices and ideals of manhood that dehumanise women. African cultures are not unchangeable, and patriarchy is not destiny. A new, egalitarian model of African masculinity must be nurtured — one based on dignity, equality, and nonviolence. This cultural reorientation must begin in families and be sustained through schools, religious and traditional forums, and community life. It must happen for Olarato Mongale. For Rebecca Cheptegei. For the thousands of others whose lives were stolen. And most urgently, it must happen for the women and girls across Africa who live each day knowing that their greatest threat may come from the men closest to them. There can be no just African future unless African manhood is transformed.
The Herald
7 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
‘I grasp concepts better in isiXhosa than in English'
Hlumelo Makunga, a 19-year-old Wits University student, is living proof that learning in one's mother tongue can be beneficial to schoolchildren. In 2016, when Makunga entered grade 4 at Ngubezulu Primary School in Tsomo, he was introduced to Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTbBE). isiXhosa was the primary language of instruction (80%) and English was a secondary language (20%) until he passed grade 7. 'I never struggled with English and maths because I had a solid foundation in my mother tongue,' he said. 'My teachers used isiXhosa to explain complex concepts, and this helped me understand and retain information better.' Makunga's academic record speaks for itself. He passed English, maths and science with a level seven in grade 12 and was named the top pupil in the Mthawelanga circuit in the Cofimvaba area. He is now studying towards a degree in chemical engineering. 'English will never make one a better learner than others. It's the foundation, dedication and commitment that matter.' Makunga's cousin, 13-year-old Isiphiwe Makunga, is in grade 7 at Ngubezulu Primary. Isiphiwe started his schooling career in the Western Cape but moved to the village school in January this year. In the Western Cape, he was being taught in English only. 'I did not perform well, though I was not failing. Now things are much better. 'In term one, I obtained a level 4; in term two, I received a level 5, and I believe in term four I will achieve a level 7,' said Isiphiwe, who has fallen in love with mathematics and wants to be a lawyer or maths teacher. Qhama Bukula, 11, is in grade 6 at Mvuzo Primary School in Cofimvaba. He speaks English fluently, even though he has never attended an English-medium school. 'My English teachers are good. Though I can feel comfortable in both languages, and I can express myself freely, I am an isiXhosa speaker ... I grasp concepts better in isiXhosa than in English. 'Even when we support each other with school assignments or work, we use both isiXhosa and English, and my peers understand better in isiXhosa.' Sinaye Maxolo, in grade 7, hopes that the mother tongue learning programme will be introduced in grade 8. 'This will make me part of the first group to be taught in MTbBE in high school starting next year. 'My school has been at the top of the district in maths and debate, in both English and isiXhosa, and we are also involved in coding and robotics and became district champs. I am participating in all of those, including music,' Sinaye said. This special report into the state of literacy, a collaborative effort by The Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch, was made possible by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation
The Citizen
a day ago
- Science
- The Citizen
Fascination of the Dome's geological wonder explored
Whether it is scientific, curiosity, historical, or cultural interest, ecotourism, or adventure activities, the Vredefort Dome has something special to offer each visitor. The site's importance and value in promoting desired tourism activities and contributing to the research by geological scientists from all over the world, cannot be overlooked. Although not proclaimed as a World Heritage Site in terms of South African law yet, it has been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List since 2005, being the oldest, largest and most deeply eroded complex meteorite impact structure in the world – nearly twice as big as the impact that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Yet many tourists do not know what to expect when visiting the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, says Prof. Rodger Gibson from Wits University's School of Geological Sciences. Having spent many years researching the Vredefort Impact and as co-writer of the book Meteorite Impact, he found that people often mistakenly think they will be able to see the impact as a hole in the ground. Yet the uniqueness of the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site lies in the geological wonder. Eager to learn and explore these geological wonders, 37 participants from the Gauteng, Free State, and Northwest provinces joined an excursion in the Vredefort Dome on Saturday, led by Gibson and organised by the Dome Conservancy. The geological uniqueness seen here in the Dome is a result of rivers that, over many hundreds of millions of years, eroded the sides of the crater and most of the cooled melt-rock. This exposed the rocks that once lay underneath the crater. Today, the rocks in the Vredefort Dome are exposed in several rings. The oldest rocks that were buried deep within the crust before the impact event are found in the centre. These are mostly granite gneisses over 3 000 million years old. Parys and Vredefort are built on these gneisses that have been mined for their stone in many quarries. The hills of the Vredefort mountain range are made of hard white quartzite rock, with the valleys in between made of softer shale. Some thin layers containing a little gold were once mined from these rocks near Venterskroon. Beyond the hills towards Potchefstroom and Fochville lie softer lava and dolomite rocks that form flatter land. All these rocks form part of the Vredefort Dome. Only a small part of the Vredefort Dome along the Vaal River, between Parys/ Potchefstroom and Vredefort/ Potchefstroom roads, has been declared a World Heritage Site. Gibson, on Saturday, first gave an introduction to the South African geology and the Vredefort Dome impact at the Salvamento granite quarry at Kopjeskraal. At the granite quarry, one can see extraordinary examples of Pseudotachylite, which is a glassy or fine-grained rock formation from brecciation followed by the melting of granite. Broken up granite blocks could be seen in between these Pseudotachylite breccias. At Schurwedraai, the uniqueness of the rock formations in the Dome and the various unique mineral compositions in the rocks were explained. Gibson also explained the impact of the ice age and glaciers' movements on the Dome landscape about 300 million years ago. Evidence of shock is an important feature of a meteorite impact event, and this evidence was shown in the shatter cones that could be seen in the Booysens shale at Rooderand. Shatter cones are cone-like, or striated fractures in rocks, that were formed due to the extreme shock wave that went through the rock formations during the time of the impact. These shatter cones can be seen throughout the first impact ring, also known as the Vredefort Dome Mountain Land. The last point of interest visited was the Vredefort Granophyre Dyke at Daskop. Granophyre is an impact melt rock composed of irregular intergrowths of quartz and feldspar minerals and was formed during the impact. This Granophyre Dyke is an important archaeological site dating back to the first Bushmen who were hunting here. According to archaeologists, this was a rain-making site, as can be illustrated through the series of petroglyphs, or rock engravings. Some of these petroglyphs are over 6000 years old. The excursion gave a fascinating perspective on the geology of the Dome days before the GeoCongress in Bloemfontein. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
The role young boys play in ending SA's GBV crisis
Exploring the pivotal role of young boys in combating gender-based violence in South Africa, this article highlights alarming statistics and recent tragedies that underscore the urgent need for change. Image: Ai Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to remain a critical issue in South Africa, with consistent reports showing high rates of violence against women and girls. Most recently, the country was shaken by the murders of Wits University postgraduate student Mongale and 14-year-old Lukhona Fose, tragedies that reignited national outrage and reminded the public that violence remains deeply entrenched in homes and communities. According to the first South African National Gender-Based Violence Study conducted in 2024, 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives. The study also revealed that 9.8% of women reported experiencing sexual violence at some point in their lives. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading As GBV worsens, public anger also intensified after Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused were acquitted of rape and trafficking charges earlier this year with civil society organisations slamming the NPA for mishandling the case. "The recent events in South Africa underscore serious flaws in our Justice System —particularly in how Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases are reported and handled. These failures are evident at every stage of the judicial process – from poor police responses and delays in prosecution to the inability to bring cases to conclusion – leaving survivors without justice, closure, or meaningful recourse". said Oxam South Africa. Oxfam South Africa is a social justice organisation committed to tackling the root causes of poverty, inequality, and gender-based violence. While essential services for survivors remain a critical part of the GBV response, many experts argue that focusing on prevention, especially among boys and young men is key to lasting change. One organisation leading this preventative work is Sonke Gender Justice, an NGO dedicated to advancing gender equality and promoting human rights across the country. One organisation leading this preventative work is Sonke Gender Justice, an NGO dedicated to advancing gender equality and promoting human rights across the country. Image: Sonke Gender Justice Among its initiatives are MenCare, which promotes involved and nurturing fatherhood, and One Man Can, which encourages men and boys to challenge harmful notions of masculinity and adopt more equitable behaviours. "Young men and boys have a pivotal role to play in breaking the cycle of gender-based violence in South African communities. Addressing GBV requires the active participation of all members of society, particularly young men who represent the future of our communities" said Josephine Mukwendi, Regional Programmes Specialist at Sonke. According to Mukwendi the organisation also creates safe spaces for young men to talk openly about power, relationships, and what it means to be a man. "Young men can also serve as peer educators and mentors for younger boys, helping to shape positive masculine identities from an early age. By demonstrating that strength comes from protecting rather than harming others and that real men resolve conflicts without violence, they can influence the next generation's understanding of what it means to be a man," Also working to shift behaviour among boys is Father A Nation, an organisation that operates in schools and communities with a two-part model: No Excuse for Abuse, which educates young men on the root causes and consequences of GBV. Among its initiatives are MenCare, which promotes involved and nurturing fatherhood, and One Man Can, which encourages men and boys to challenge harmful notions of masculinity and adopt more equitable behaviours. "Young men and boys have a pivotal role to play in breaking the cycle of gender-based violence in South African communities. Addressing GBV requires the active participation of all members of society, particularly young men who represent the future of our communities" said Josephine Mukwendi, Regional Programmes Specialist at Sonke. According to Mukwendi the organisation also creates safe spaces for young men to talk openly about power, relationships, and what it means to be a man. "Young men can also serve as peer educators and mentors for younger boys, helping to shape positive masculine identities from an early age. By demonstrating that strength comes from protecting rather than harming others and that real men resolve conflicts without violence, they can influence the next generation's understanding of what it means to be a man," Also working to shift behaviour among boys is Father A Nation, an organisation that operates in schools and communities with a two-part model: No Excuse for Abuse, which educates young men on the root causes and consequences of GBV. "Men need to lead the fight against GBV so they play the most important role. Teaching, inspiring, and mentoring boys and men to live with positive, healthy masculinity is the key to breaking the cycle of abuse." Craig Wilkinson Founder and CEO. Wilkinson also believes that the lack of positive role models in society also contributes to and exacerbates the scourge of GBV in the country. "Poverty, lack of unemployment and most importantly lack of father figures also contribute to the scourge of GBV in the country, which is also what we teach young boys about positive masculinity" IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
New Covid variant raises concern over vaccine access
Experts urge South Africa to license updated vaccines as a new Covid variant spreads globally but hasn't reached SA yet. If South Africa wants to intensify its fight against the new Covid variant that might hit the country, it should consider having vaccines available and licensed locally, according to health experts. The World Health Organisation recently announced that the new variant, which was detected in Asia a few weeks ago is gaining momentum globally. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has confirmed the NB.1.8.1 variant has not yet been detected in South Africa. New Covid variant not yet detected in SA Prof Shabir Madhi, a health expert from Wits University, said: 'Unfortunately, there are no Covid vaccines available or licensed in SA. This is concerning, as highrisk people do require at least annual boosting with the most recent variant vaccine. 'The vaccine currently available elsewhere would provide some protection against NB1.8.1, but less so compared to the variant (JN) which is targeted at.' ALSO READ: The price of distraction: South Africa's allergy to the truth He said licensing the vaccines in the country was important because the high-risk individuals still remain susceptible to severe disease and it's the only option that can reduce their risk of severe illness from Covid. Madhi said the surveillance for Covid has significantly diminished over the past few years in SA, while there was data to support the virus has been circulating at low intensity since 2023. 'We have recently had an annual outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus, which is on the decline. Also, there is an increase in influenza over the past two weeks, which is now beginning to dominate,' he said. Proactive planning and investment Dr Bandile Masuku, chief patron of the national campaign for epidemic preparedness funding and budgeting, said it was important for the country to conduct proactive planning and investment, particularly in Gauteng. 'South Africa, and especially Gauteng, learned hard lessons from the Covid pandemic,' said Masuku. ALSO READ: Special Tribunal declares R600m AngloGold Ashanti Hospital contracts unlawful 'Today, we are better equipped, but we must not be complacent. Preparedness is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Let us not wait for a crisis to occur. Let us fund, plan and prepare because preparedness saves lives.' Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has urged the public not to panic. He said South Africa was actively monitoring the emergence of the variant and had a robust surveillance system in place. Don't panic – Minister Motsoaledi 'Currently, our data shows very low Sars-CoV-2 activity. While we are observing a seasonal increase in influenza, we are well-prepared to manage this,' said Motsoaledi. He said at this stage, no specific new public health actions are required from the public. ALSO READ: Covid pupils triumph with record matric results Motsoaledi also urged the public to maintain good hygiene practices, such as hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home when not feeling well.
