Men in South Africa are stepping up to stop violence against women

Sat Oct 03 2026 02:56:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Men in Johannesburg are gathering to fight gender‑based violence and encourage change in their communities.

In a Johannesburg slum, men hold a candid meeting to confront a rising tide of violence against women. Kgomotso Mathekga shares his own abusive actions, showing the need for accountability. Bra Steve and the Father A Nation group promote positive masculinity and aim to protect families. South Africa’s government acknowledges the problem, but new initiatives must come early. The movement invites all men to be role models and stand against femicide.

In a narrow street in the Johannesburg slum of Organic Market, a group of men gather to talk openly about the violence that plagues South Africa’s women. Kgomotso Mathekga, 30, admits he once slapped his girlfriend after a drunken fight and now feels guilt for hurting his child.

Behind them, the hum of a tavern’s chatter echoes as Bra Steve, the local organiser for Father A Nation, raises his fist and rallies the men with the slogan, “We are men, we must fight femicide.” His message is simple: every male must act responsibly and protect women and girls.

Father A Nation has run workshops across the country, teaching healthy masculinity and offering men a space to process emotions. The organisation’s leader stresses that the lack of former role models pushes men into harmful patterns, and it is now on them to reset community values.

South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said the government will improve street lighting and keep an eye on unsolved cases, but critics argue the measures are too slow. With 569 women murdered in the past three months, the trend shows a deep‑rooted crisis.

The men’s meeting also spotlights how women feel unsafe: walking alone in the dark, fearing theft or violence. A woman named Linkie tells the group she now only travels in a shared taxi or ridesharing app.

Unlike past high‑profile campaigns, this initiative relies on real voices from the community, using candid conversation to build a safer future. It invites every man to choose how he wants to be seen: a protector, a partner, and a positive role model.