South African Men Step Up to End Violence Against Women

Sat Oct 03 2026 02:54:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Inside Johannesburg, men confront the country’s high rates of gender‑based violence, pledging to change attitudes and become role models for safety.

In Johannesburg’s Organic Market, men like Kgomotso Mathekga and Bra Steve gather to confront South Africa’s rising gender‑based violence. The non‑profit Father A Nation trains men in positive masculinity, while President Ramaphosa promises improved security. Police investigate recent femicide spikes, but community leaders urge quicker action. Women in the area fear nighttime safety, turning to safer transport options. The men pledge to be protective role models, aiming to break the cycle of abuse.

South African Men Step Up to End Violence Against Women

Man speaking in a Johannesburg neighbourhood — Kgomotso Mathekga says a lack of male role models fuels violence.

"I witness men hitting women all the time," says Kgomotso Mathekga, 30, after a fight with his girlfriend that left him slapping her.

Mathekga, together with other men in the informal settlement of Organic Market, gathered in a dusty tavern to discuss the country’s rising rates of gender‑based violence.

At the centre sits Bra Steve, local organiser of the non‑profit Father A Nation, who urges men to stand together against femicide and to become better role models.

Across Johannesburg, the government has recorded more than 5,000 murders in the first quarter of the year, with 569 women killed – roughly six a day. The Human Sciences Research Council reports that over a third of South African women have experienced physical or sexual violence, often at the hands of partners.

Father A Nation’s strategy is to have men talk openly about their feelings, then train them in positive masculinity to stem the spread of violence.

Craig Wilkinson, the founder, says that the group "puts men in a safe space where they can process trauma and learn that they can choose what kind of man they want to be."

While police investigate whether the spate of murders in the Ekurhuleni area indicates serial activity, the community is demanding quicker action from President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has promised better street lighting and a review of unsolved cases.

For many women in Organic Market, street safety is a daily fear. Providence Maseko now prefers to use "e‑hailing" taxis to avoid running alone at night.

When the meeting wrapped, Bra Steve reiterated that every man must be a part of stopping gender‑based violence: "If you can’t protect my daughters and wives, you’ll never protect someone else’s family."

Mathekga expresses hope that their new conversation will lead to a community where men act as protectors rather than perpetrators.