An unjust war
On Wednesday night President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to the nation in a live televised address. The address was specifically arranged to announce the easing of lockdown regulations to allow more economic activity to resume. But the moment, however big for many South Africans with businesses and jobs that have been on hold for the past almost three months, was stolen by the senseless murder of another young woman.
Reported missing two weeks ago, Tshegofatso Pule's mutilated body was found hanging from a tree days later. She was eight months pregnant.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that I stand before the women and girls of South Africa this evening to talk about another pandemic that is raging in our country – the killing of women and children by the men of our country," the president said.
"As a man, as a husband and as a father, I am appalled at what is no less than a war being waged against the women and children of our country."
This week in Friday Briefing, we dive into some of the struggles women face in this ongoing war, in an attempt to shed light on an issue that is crippling our society. As Nomvelo Chalumbira writes, "It's no longer a question of Am I Next? But rather, when am I next?" It is a matter that demands interrogation and forces us to take a hard look in the mirror to answer the question, "will it ever end?"
Alet Law
Newsletter and engagement editor
PS. Some of the stories in this compilation could be triggering for those who have had traumatic experiences related to gender-based violence in the past.
Femicide fatigue amidst a femicide pandemic
For 20 years, I’ve known about and seen femicide. Will it take another two decades before it all ends – or even just decreases.
By Phontso Pilane
Tshegofatso Pule is not the first, and certainly won't be the last
We need commitment to saving the lives of women, children and unborn infants with the same vigour, intensity and perseverance that is applied to fighting the coronavirus.
By Lauren Klaassen
Tshegofatso Pule's killer is probably not a monster, and it's terrifying
The psychopath in the dead of night is mostly a myth in South Africa, according to research.
By Sarah Evans
Many women are stuck at home with their potential murderers during lockdown
Hashtags, slogans, summits, activism and protests have not helped to keep women safe. Our government and society are crippled by an inability to protect women.
By Nthabi Nhlapo
I'm an angry black woman and I am tired
I have vowed to speak up, for myself, for Uyinene, for Tshegofatso, Anene and all the other women who can no longer say: "It happened to me too."
By Cebelihle Mthethwa
It's no longer a question of Am I Next? But rather, when am I next?
I am beginning to wonder how it’s going to happen to me. Will I be gang-raped by a group of deranged beasts on my way to my car?
By Nomvelo Chalumbira
We are horrified, we condemn, we protest. We chant "government must step in"; we call on men to call each other out. We protest some more, we bury, we move on.
By Bombeleni Mavundza