PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 25th NOVEMBER 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wearing orange, hosting awareness events part of campaign to mobilize communities during 16 Days Wearing orange and hosting awareness events are part of the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust’s plan of action for 16 Days of Activism to mobilize community involvement to eradicate the scourge of gender-based violence, said Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust. “Empower every voice: Unite for Change is the theme of 1000 Women Trust’s campaign during the 16 Days of Activism,” said Thiart. “The focus will be to encourage action at all levels of society and promoting support for change,” she said. “This year, 1000 Women Trust emphasizes the power of collective action and the importance of every individual’s contribution to end gender-based violence,” said Thiart. “We invite you to join us or be innovative, create a meaningful way of showing solidarity or making a difference in the communities. “A total of 7.84 million women in South Africa have been subjected to physical and sexual violence, according to the Human Science Research Council-findings of the first SA national gender-based violence study of 2022 released on Monday 18 th November 2024,” said Thiart. “In order to address this alarming situation, we need more community involvement,” said Thiart. “We are encouraging everyone to wear orange, the colour symbolizing a brighter future free from violence and sharing photos on social media with hashtags like #EmpowerEveryVoice and #UniteForChange.” The Trust also wants to partner with local businesses and government during16 Days. There are many ways that companies can raise awareness and encourage employees to engage in communities, said Thiart. One way might be to light up landmarks in orange in solidarity against gender-based violence. 1000 Women Trust is inviting communities to arrange social events or discussion groups during each of the 16 Days of Activism – to create a safe space to discuss gender-based violence, while wearing orange to show solidarity with victims of gender-based violence, said Thiart. “At social events, we want to encourage survivors to share their stories, either in person or through videos, to create awareness and inspire action,” Thiart said. 1000 Women Trust plan to host workshops during the 16 Days to prevent gender-based violence and promote human rights, in partnership with its GBV-Warriors. The Trust trained GBV-Warriors to assist victims of gender-based violence in the crucial 24 hours following an attack in order to offer safe spaces to the affected women and also assist them the following day to access Thuthuzela Care Centres or open a case at a police station. “We also will mobilize support during 16 Days for the GBV-Warriors though donations and volunteerism,” said Thiart. “We also aim to foster unity, a sense of community and collective responsibility in the eradication of gender-based violence and to grow the 1000 Women Network,” Thiart said. Thiart says 1000 Women Trust will kick-off the 16 Days of Activism-campaign by encouraging everybody to wear orange on Day One in solidarity against gender-based violence. Everyone of the 16 days will have a specific theme and call to action. On day 2 on 26 th November the theme will revolve around what to do when you suspect that a child is abused. Over 106 000 rape cases and 22,000 sexual assault cases involving children have been reported over the last six financial years, and therefore the community involvement is crucial to stop this, said Thiart. The community can help by looking for signs like physical injuries, poor hygiene, and behavioural changes like when a child is withdrawing or expressing excessive fear. You can report immediately by contacting your local child protection services, a social worker or the police, or visit the helpline of the Trust on 061-4690479. On the 27 th November 1000 Women Trust will discuss the key amendments to GBV-laws including the Criminal Law Amendment bill, ensuring that survivors are informed about their rights. On Day eight, or 2 nd December, the 1000 Women Trust will focus on how complainants can react when police officers refuse to open a case against perpetrators of GBV. Every person has a right to report a case and the police are legally obliged to open a case and investigate. The complainant can also write down the officer’s name and badge number and lodge a complaint with the independent police investigative directorate or other oversight bodies. Women who are refused assistance, can also liaise with 1000 Women Trust, and with their GBV Warriors who are expertly trained to assist them when dealing with uncooperative police officers. “We believe that through these actions on each day, we are assisting the community in challenging gender-based violence. “ For example, secondary victimization at police offices is one of the main reasons why law enforcement agencies do not form an effective deterrent against domestic violence,” Thiart said. The 1000 Women Trust is a South African organization that aims to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. To contact the Trust, send a mail to info@1000women.co.za or call the Trust on 061-4690479. Press release compiled by Fanie Heyns on behalf of 1000 Women Trust. For more information, contact Tina Thiart on 073-2079079.

HSRC’s findings of scale of GBV conservative due to women not reporting the crime’ Considerably more women experienced physical and sexual violence in South Africa than the 7,84 million that was revealed by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in its findings on the first South African National Gender-Based Violence study of 2022. That is because 60 % of SA women do not report gender-based violence for fear of secondary victimization, says Tina Thiart, co-founder of the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust. 33.1% of all women aged 18 years and older are vulnerable to physical violence in their lifetime, according to the HSRC-findings of the first SA national gender-based violence study of 2022 presented to minister Sindisiwe Chikunga on Monday 18 th November 2024. Among all women, 9.8% (an estimated 2 150 342 women) have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The combined physical and sexual violence prevalence in the country is 35.5%, which translates to 7.84 million women. Thiart said that figure could be considerably higher. Many SA women simply do not report physical of sexual gender-based violence for fear of reprisal by their boyfriends or husbands, or because of the secondary victimization that these women face at police stations. “In 2020, 2021 and 2022, 1000 Women Trust, and the WE DARE-team (acronym for Women’s Equality; Digital Access and the Right to Expression), led by Prof Mollie Painter of the Nottingham School of Business, did research on multiple gender-based violence-related matters, including the patters of reporting by SA women. We established that 60 % of all women affected by gender-based violence, do not report the crime,” said Thiart. “Recently, a police-officer at the Delft Police station’s community service centre, for example, turned away a rape victim and demanded that the survivor brings a witness before a case can be opened, Thiart said. Dr Genine Josias, medical coordinator at the Thuthuzela Clinical Forensic Centre at the Karl Bremer Hospital, said on Facebook that a person reported the rape at the police station in Delft, a GBV-hotspot in the Western Cape. The police officer questioned why the victim waited so long to open a case and then told the survivor to bring a witness before the case can be opened. Apparently, the witness walked in on the crime but was not available to accompany the survivor to the police station, so the victim and the witness returned to Delft police station the following morning, Dr Josias said. She said these wrong actions by the police is not an isolated incident but happens repeatedly and affects rape-survivors as some of the traumatized victims might decide not to return the next day. “The police must open the case immediately and should not be asking rape survivors for witnesses. They also should not question why they waited 48 hours as many victims suffer severe trauma and don’t report it immediately.” said Dr Josias. “Often women who are unaccompanied, suffer at police stations and in many instances no case is opened by the police, Thiart said. That prompted1000 Women Trust to launch the GBV-Warriors-campaign to provide critical support to women and children severely impacted by gender-based violence, particularly within the crucial first 24 hours after an attack to ensure that there are safe spaces for women immediately after an attack. The GBV-Warriors, who have an astute knowledge of the rights of the victims, accompany these victims to the police stations, where, historically, GBV-victims have suffered secondary victimization, said Thiart. Dr Nadia Bernon, a GBV-Warrior of 1000 Women Trust and gender activist in KwaZulu-Natal, says secondary victimization at police stations are real. “That is why victims don’t even report cases because they have lost hope in the law and the way they are treated and that is why victims are now making civil society organizations that focuses on GBV their first responders. “The problem is that police stations don’t have a gender-based violence desk and few police officers and police vehicles strictly for GBV-related matters or incidents and they don’t make GBV-cases a priority. They give it less attention,” Bernon said. “Unless there is structural reform of the SA Police Service, the police will not act as an effective deterrent to perpetrators of gender-based violence,” said Thiart. The 1000 Women Trust is a South African organization that works to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. For more information, contact 1000 Women Trust on info@1000women.co.za or phone the Trust on 061-4690479.

Lottering: being a GBV-Warrior of 1000 Women Trust is a mission and calling “I cannot sit idle when I see the verbal, physical and emotional abuse of women in a gender based-violence-hotspot. I came out of a relationship with a man who had narcissistic traits and want to help other women who have to cope without the support of family,” says Marinda Lottering, GBV-Warrior of 1000 Women Trust in Beaufort-West. Lottering, who also runs the organization Movement of Hope, said she suffered physical, financial and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, and she ended up in a clinic. She divorced him. Now she considers it her mission to help women in a GBV-hotspot like Beaufort-West. “I often witness the pain of women who were subjected to brutal assaults and femicide and I cannot just witness that and do nothing about it,” Lottering says. She is a pivotal part of 1000 Women Trust’s nationwide Project Orange, offering a safe space and emergency accommodation in the critical 24 hours after an attack to women severely impacted by GBV. “If there is one thing all SA men should understand about GBV, is that so many grow up in a home in which the husband abused and battered his wife,” she says. “It was a relationship in which the husband acted as if he was the boss and had the power over her. And the woman stayed in that toxic relationship. We need to break this cycle because these wrong relationships are perpetuated from generation to generation.” Lottering said the change she wants to see in the community over the next five years, is that women should stand united. She also wants boys to be coached properly on how to treat women and girls correctly. The one challenge South Africa urgently needs to take head-on when it comes to GBV is to create safe spaces and havens for women severely impacted by GBV and to empower and up-skill these women to become independent. “We need this as we are operating in an environment where the police are not great, the police officers are not properly trained and too many officers protect male offenders,” she says. How can women join the fight against GBV? “Go to workshops and support groups where they are empowered, so that they can empower their communities.” Asked if she could have one meal for the rest of the life, what she would prefer, Lottering says: “I am a snack person. I love it, but I also enjoy vegetables twice a week.” Where would you travel to if you were allowed to, Lottering was asked: “I think Ireland, because there are opportunities to study for free.” Her dream for 1000 Women Trust is that the government would see the Trust for who they truly are. “They invest more in women than what the government did for many generations. The Trust needs support from government for the indispensable work that they do.” This October, let’s show up for survivors. Your donations of #paint, #cash, #toiletries, or #bedding to Lottering and other GBV-Warriors of 1000 Women Trust will go directly to furnishing these safe havens. Together, we can create real change during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #1000WomenTrust #SupportSurvivors #GBV #1000Women1Voice #ProjectOrange 1000 Women Trust is a South African Women's Rights Organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 or send an email to info@1000women.co.za .

GBV-Warrior Ngwenyana proposes monthly workshops to empower women Nomonde Ngwenyana from Lihle Liphuma is a GBV-Warrior whose tireless community work to assist victims of gender-based violence was kick-started when she saw kids on the streets needing mentoring and direction because their mothers were at home drinking. “A campaign like Project Orange to create safe spaces for women who are fighting abuse is so much needed to assist the community,” says Ngwenyana, a business-owner who empowers many other women. If she could give any woman one piece of advice, it would be to stand together in the fight against gender-based violence. “The police will laugh at you when you report your case. They will not follow up on your case unless you are dead. They are lazy,” she says. What she wants to see established over the next five years, is monthly workshops where women can groom one another to grow as persons and gain new skills, says Ngwenyana. “We require money to finance small projects that can help women with skills development,” she says. “Register on 1000 Women Trust, and get involved in small projects, especially in projects in which you are gifted with,” she says. Ngwenyana has acknowledged the work of Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, in mentoring her as a business owner, and she says she is now a proud owner of a seven-room home, where she previously had a house with only three rooms. The name Nomonde Ngwenyana in Nyanga-East is synonymous with Small Beginnings – a shop that sells fish and chips and Amagaga – chicken chunks. She also visits NGOs and schools that invite her to teach people and learners the skills to do beading independently. They pay her for that service. She has recently been contacted by a new NGO to visit them and share her considerable skills with them. Asked how she deals with setbacks, Ngwenyana says it is no use in pondering too long on setbacks. “It is important to get your mind of it at the end of the day, maybe have a glass of wine with your partner and relax,” she says. Asked what talent she has that assists her as GBV-Warrior to support women and offer them a safe space when they have been abused, Ngwenyana says: “One thing I have is that women come to me for advice and they listen when I speak to them. And I have the ability to mobilize them.” She says her dream for 1000 Women Trust is that it would grow and that it would help more women to become powerful. “And my personal dream is to offer more women work so that there would be almost no family without jobs, and therefore no jealousy,” she said. Postscript: It’s time to take real action beyond hashtags and slogans. South Africa has the 3rd highest rape stats— Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a crime, and we’re mobilising to fight back! The 1000 Women Trust is launching a collection drive to support our GBV Advice Offices in key hotspots across the country, as part of #ProjectOrange. We need paint—lots of it! Orange, Navy, White, Black—and supplies like brushes, terps, and trays to transform these offices into safe spaces for survivors. Can you help? This October, let’s show up for survivors. Your donations of #paint, #cash, #toiletries, or #bedding will go directly to furnishing these safe havens. Together, we can create real change during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #1000WomenTrust #SupportSurvivors #GBV #1000Women1Voice #ProjectOrange. 1000 Women Trust is a women-led organization focused on creating awareness of gender-based violence and femicide. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 or email the Trust on info@1000women.co.za .

Support required for GBV-Warrior Nadia Bernon as 1000 Women Trust creates safe spaces for women The gaps in service delivery and a lack of gender-sensitivity at police stations and courts hamper the work done to assist women who are survivors of gender-based violence, says Dr Nadia Bernon, GBV-Warrior of 1000 Women Trust and community activist at Newlands East in Durban. Dr Bernon is the founder and director of the Newlands East Humane Society NPO, Rapid Response Team Chairperson on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) – Newlands East, Board member of the KZN Civil Society Organisations Council (CSO) and a GBV-Warrior of 1000 Women Trust creating a safe space for victims of GBV in the critical 24 hours after an attack. “What is dearly needed, is that governmental service providers like the police and the courts need to be more gender-sensitive and they need to be trained to assist survivors of GBV,” says Dr Benon. “One of the solutions would be advice desks at courts and police stations,” said Bernon. “There also need to be more messaging about strengthening the prevention strategies so that gender-based violence is stopped before women are abused,” Dr Benon said. “Not all men are perpetrators but men need to be more gender-sensitive and support groups for men must be created. Many men have not dealt with their past hurts and trauma. In these support groups men must understand that real men do cry,” Bernon said. Bernon grew up in a activist’s home where stranger who were hurting, received help. Her own mother was abused by her father and that is where she developed a passion to support victims of GBV. Bernon said the monumental work done by 1000 Women Trust and its Project Orange to create safe spaces and structure to support women badly affected by GBV, needs financial support from government. “I would like to see this work expanded so that it gets a national footprint more and more,” Dr Bernon says. Dr Bernon is one of several GBV-Warriors who have been working for years and who have made a lasting impact on their communities. They are on the frontlines, combating gender-based violence and creating safe spaces for their neighbours and their neighbours’ neighbours. This October, let’s show up for survivors, for the GBV-Warriors and for Project Orange. Your donations of #paint, #cash, #toiletries, or #bedding will go directly to furnishing these safe havens. Together, we can create real change during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #1000WomenTrust #SupportSurvivors #GBV #1000Women1Voice #ProjectOrange. The 1000 Women Trust is a women's organizations that aim to raise awareness around Gender-Based Violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources. These resources make it possible for us to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479. Or mail the organization on info@1000women.co.za

Police, court dragging their feet to deal with perpetrator of brutal attack on Monaise There has been no justice for Goitsemang Rebone Monaise since a brutal attack by a former family friend which was reported to the police in July 2023. The man attempted to strangle her and also headbutted her. She had to acquire a protection order to safeguard her from more possible attacks. Yet, since the assault with the purpose to inflict serious bodily harm, the case was postponed 10 times and no progress was made, despite overwhelming evidence linking him to this heinous crime, and the presence of friends who witnessed his violent crime. “He was a family friend and we briefly dated when we were in our 30s,” Monaise recalled. “One day in July last year, he made unwanted advances and I told him I am not interested. Subsequently, while I was outside a store with another friend of mine and him, he manhandled me, shoved me to the ground on the pavement side and strangled and choked me till I was running out of air,” she said. “When I recovered from that attack, I went home to fetch his bag and once inside the yard, he grabbed me by my left arm and headbutted me violently. “He also grabbed my hair hard and hung on to my dreadlocks and a friend of mine was not able to help me. I was dazed and in deep pain. I immediately reported the case and also got a protection order against the attacker,” Monaise said. “I did everything in my power and has been sent from pillar to post with no progress made in the case. I have contacted the investigation officer at least 10 times since July. The police seem to underplay the situation and even questioned why I called this gender-based violence as there was no bleeding,” said Monaise. “The attacker then laid a counter charge against me and was granted a protection order against me. I did not even touch him. If I did not lay a charge against him, he would have done nothing,” she said. “The case has just been postponed for an 11 th time until the 11 th November 2024,” said Monaise. Tina Thiart, co-founder of the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, said one of the main reasons why 53498 sexual offences were reported to the South African Police Services between April 2022 and March 2023 with rape accounting for 42780 of these cases, is that government is lacking the political will to eradicate gender-based violence and femicide. The time between when a case was reported to the police and when a perpetrator is finally convicted of a gender-based violence and femicide related crime is usually five or six years because of the shoddy investigative work by the police and the lack of action by the courts. And because the police and the courts are not pro-active and do not act as effective deterrent against sexual crimes, the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide continue to plague women in South Africa, she said. “What happens to Goitsemang, is a microcosmos of what happens to most women who are victims of gender-based violence. That is one of the reasons why 1000 Women Trust has launched Project Orange and the GBV-Warriors, to assist women attacked by perpetrators of gender-based violence in order to liaise effectively with service providers like the police and the courts in the 24 hours after an attack. “We will follow up on the case of Goitsemang and will put pressure on the investigative officer in association with our sister organizations in Gauteng to ensure that there is not a further postponement to her case,” Thiart said. The 1000 Women Trust is a South African organization that works to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. The organization's mission is to empower women and girls through education, resources, and training. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 or email us on info@1000women.co.za .

Executive leaders in Free State in awe of 1000 Women Trust and GBV-Warriors, says Setlogelo “I got attracted to the GBV Warriors and Project Orange through the way 1000 Women Trust capacitated women at grass roots level,” said Thuto Setlogelo, deputy director of risk management at the department of the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Setlogelo is a GBV Warrior of 1000 Women Trust and an avid supporter of the work that has been done by Tina Thiart, co-founder of the Trust, in the Free State and nationwide. She said the trauma training done by 1000 Women Trust and the pamphlets on bullying has touched the lives of many leaders in executive positions in the Free State. “And the concept of GBV Warriors introduced by 1000 Women Trust has had magistrates, executive majors and community police force members in awe and have had them wanting to come on board as well as GBV-Warriors,” said Setlogelo. “The community work that I did and the national strategic plan on gender-based violence and femicide triggered an interest in me and made me come to the realization that we need to create safe spaces for women in the community affected by GBV. “And that is exactly what the GBV-Warriors of 1000 Women Trust do. We create safe spaces for women in dire need of attention and assistance,” said Setlogelo. There is a lack of knowledge on bullying, the different types of femicide and gender-based violence and that is where 1000 Women Trust plays a pivotal role. Expanding the Trust’s work to all provinces and handing over certificates for newly appointed GBV-Warriors truly touches the lives of many people, Setlogelo says. “I think we need to print more pamphlets on GBV like the ones we have on bullying and share them with victims as it really is transformative,” she adds. Setlogelo is one of the GBV-Warriors on the front line, combating gender-based violence, supporting survivors, and creating safe spaces in their communities. These dedicated women provide resources, guidance, and hope to those most in need. This November, the 1000 Women Trust is launching a collection drive to support our GBV Advice Offices in key hotspots across the country, as part of #ProjectOrange. Project Orange revolves around creating safe spaces in a room or a house where women severely affected by violence in GBV-hotspots can turn to a GBV Warrior to assist her in the critical first 24 hours after an attack. We need paint—lots of it! Orange, Navy, White, Black—and supplies like brushes, terps, and trays to transform these offices into safe spaces for survivors. Can you help? Our GBV Warriors on the ground in Durban, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Beaufort West are ready, but they need some love and support. Even if you can only share this message, that could be the spark that connects us to the right person. This November, let’s show up for survivors. Your donations of #paint, #cash, #toiletries, or #bedding will go directly to furnishing these safe havens. Together, we can create real change during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #1000WomenTrust #SupportSurvivors #GBV #1000Women1Voice #ProjectOrange. 1000 Women Trust is a South African organization that works to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. The organization's mission is to empower women and girls through education, resources, and training. For more information, contact 1000 Women Trust on 061-4690479 or send an email to info@1000women.co.za .

‘Protection money paid to prevent girls from being raped points to collapse of law and order’ Women and girls leaving protection money on their windowsills to persuade men not to rape them – this is what happened in the Mqhekezweni-settlement 40 kilometer south of Mtatha in the Eastern Cape where five grade 12-girls were raped at the end of October, according to a netwerk24.com-report. This is an enormous indictment on the complete inability of the government and police to protect its own citizens. “The alarming news about women and girls allegedly paying protection money to men to prevent them from being rape, as reported by netwerk24, points to the fact that law and order in this country has completely collapsed,” said Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, a women-led organization creating awareness of gender-based violence and femicide. “These girls are paying – and it is obviously wrong – protection money because they know they are in peril danger and could even lose their lives. They do this as they are fully convinced that the South African Police Service is not able to protect them,” said Thiart. “And when five girls are raped, it might take four to five years before the rapists are convicted. Government is paying lip-service to eradicating gender-based violence and femicide. At grass roots level, the fight is lost at police stations and courts, where police officers and court officials fail dismally to assist suffering women,” Thiart said. The failures to protect and assist women, not only occur in the Eastern Cape. In the Free State, at the campus of the University of the Free State, there are so-called safe corridors for women, and there are other areas that is marked as so-called no-go areas. Again, this is an indictment of the complete ability of government to protect women and girls, said Thiart. These recent events underline the pivotal importance of Project Orange, the GBV-Warriors and of regional advice offices – initiatives launched by 1000 Women Trust – to secure safe spaces for women in South Africa. So far, 1000 Women Trust has earmarked at least six advice offices, but judging from the way the community have embraced Project Orange, as well as the scale of gender-based violence, 1000 Women Trust needs to expand Project Orange and multiply the advice offices to strengthen the support structures for communities and mobilize people against the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa, said Thiart. The 1000 Women Trust is a South African organization that works to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. The organization's mission is to empower women and girls through education, resources, and training. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 or send an email to info@1000women.co.za

Philanthropist Wendy Ackerman, also a co-founder and long-time trustee of the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, will receive an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University (SU) at upcoming graduation ceremonies in December 2024. “Mrs Ackerman is a legendary activist in the gender-based violence sphere through her tireless work to support survivors of gender-based violence, her unwavering support of 1000 Women Trust as a co-founder and trustee and the financial support by her and her late husband Raymond to the famous annual lunches to empower women,” said Tina Thiart, of 1000 Women Trust and a co-founder of the organization. “Wendy played a pivotal role in founding the idea of 1000 Women Trust and had been one of the pillars of the Trust and of the #HearMeToo-movement for two decades. We are immensely proud of her achievement and warmly congratulate her on this prestigious honour that is bestowed upon her,” Thiart said. Ackerman’s philanthropy has spanned over several decades, with her consistent support benefitting women, children, and the arts for more than 40 years. She will receive the degree Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), honoris causa. The Ackermans helped build one of the country’s pre-eminent FMCG retailers, Pick ‘n Pay, consisting of around 2 000 stores and employing around 90 000 people, according to Cape Business News. As one of the founders and Honorary Life President of Pick n Pay stores, her work to empower and promote women has been a hallmark of her efforts at Pick n Pay. She was instrumental in getting women recognised as senior, career-oriented employees in the 1970s, seen at the time to have been too progressive for some companies. Now devoting much of her time to her family’s philanthropic endeavours and work for the underprivileged and vulnerable, she continues to fight for women’s rights today. She is involved in several education initiatives, but her greatest passion is the support she gives to promising students, particularly music students. She has run bursary schemes since 1973 and her graduates have achieved outstanding success, some performing at the finest orchestras and opera houses throughout the world. She is also a Trustee of the Pick n Pay Bursary Fund which assists children of employees. The 1000 Women Trust is a Women's Organizations that aim to raise awareness around Gender-Based Violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources. These resources make it possible for us to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 or email us at info@1000women.co.za .

PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 10 TH OCTOBER 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ‘Eight bride burnings in Free State in 2024 an indication of disturbing trend’ Eight women were killed through bride burnings by jealous husbands or boyfriends in the Free State in the first nine months of 2024, an indication that this brutal femicide is becoming a disturbing trend, and government will have to deal with it decisively, said Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, a women-led organization creating awareness of gender-based violence in South Africa. 1000 Women Trust regularly hosts trauma training in Bloemfontein for members of the community and is conducting anti-bully courses in several hundred Free State Schools. “We are deeply disturbed and concerned by the brutal killings of women in the Free State by their husbands or boyfriends through what is commonly known as bride burnings,” said Thiart. “In some of these cases, the killer did not want the woman to end a toxic relationship and he falsely accused her of infidelity,” Thiart said. “These so-called bride burnings have also now spilled over to other provinces. On Saturday 5 th October, a woman was set alight and killed by her boyfriend in Tembisa,” Thiart added. “These bride burnings are not related to dowry death (common in the Indian subcontinent) where a woman is murdered by her husband or his family for her family’s refusal to pay additional dowry. These bride burnings are purely motivated by anger and hate when a woman ends a relationship, or when a man raped a woman and he thinks that by burning her he can conceal ‘evidence’,” Thiart said. “Government will have to demonstrate that they have the political will to deal with these femicides. Firstly, by denying the alleged offender bail, and secondly by double life sentences without early parole,” Thiart added. “The femicide rate in South Africa just underlines that this is one of the most unsafe places in the world to be a woman. The murder rate for women has increased from 10 murders per 100 000 women in 2021 to 13 per 100 000 in 2023,” Thiart added. In 2021, 3121 women were reported killed, an average of 8.6 per women a day. In 2023, that number increased to 3880, an average of 10.6 women a day. The first quarter of 2024/2025 saw 966 women and 314 children murdered – a statistic that underscores the failure of our government to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. These figures translate to 11 women and three children being murdered every day, Thiart said. “The scale of gender-based violence in South Africa – there are 170 sexual assaults per day – is so comprehensive that 1000 Women Trust is training 250 GBV Warriors in hotspots around the country to assist women affected by GBV in the first 24 hours after an attack,” Thiart said. Thuto Setlogelo from the Free State Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs department, who also is a GBV-Warrior in collaboration with 1000 Women Trust, said in some cases the offenders who burned his bride beyond recognition, thought that he could conceal evidence by this heinous act. “We have heard that the offenders often used flammable substance like methylated acid to burn the victims,” she said. Setlogelo said societal and cultural factors contribute to femicide. One of the underlying factors in the femicide in the Free State is patriarchal norms and gender inequality. The objectification of women also plays a role, while the normalization of violence against women is another factor. “I believe the cultural acceptance of violence as a means of conflict resolution is a key factor in the killing of women by their intimate partners in South Africa,” Setlogelo said. She said substance abuse, jealousy and insecurity as well as possessiveness and control are some of the relationship factors that could play a role in the brutal femicide by burning. Press release compiled by Fanie Heyns on behalf of 1000 Women Trust. For more information, contact Tina Thiart on 073-2079079 or visit the website on www.1000women.co.za .

"Build a body of evidence and create an exit plan. Know where to go, have some savings, and identify who to call. Keep clothes and important documents with someone you trust to assist in the process." Ntsiki Mkhize, Ambassador 1000 WomenTrust Over the last month, we’ve shared several light-hearted self-care tips that may have seemed simple on the surface. However, these were more than just feel-good suggestions—they were part of a powerful toolkit designed to help women trapped in abusive relationships prepare for a way out. Today, we present a summary of those tips, highlighting how they can be applied as practical steps to reclaim control of your life. If you are someone in need, or if you have a friend who is struggling, these steps can provide the focus and preparation required to make the difficult, but necessary, change. Focusing on Simple Steps The first two weeks were all about getting focused. We started with simple, do-able actions like making your bed, engaging in physical exercise, and decluttering your space. These small victories are crucial. Why? Because chaos drains you. Starting your day by making your bed gives you a sense of control and accomplishment. It’s not just about tidying up—it’s about creating a space where you can think clearly and begin to rediscover yourself. Reaching out to friends is equally important. Isolation can make you lose sight of who you are. Connecting with others helps you reconnect with yourself and sparks the beginning of rediscovering who you want to be. Step 1 is critical: find you. Sorting Your Life and Admin Leaving an abusive relationship isn’t easy—it requires planning. In Week 3, we explored tips on getting your admin in order. Make a file for your documents, open a bank account, save money, and get a will in place. Having your finances and essential papers organised ensures that when the time comes to leave, you are ready. Even if you’re in a happy marriage, this is a life skill every woman should master. Don’t be vulnerable to others taking advantage of you. Know your passwords, where your documents are, and who to call in an emergency. By organising your life now, you prepare for any challenge that may come your way. Preparing for the Unexpected In Week 4, we focused on the physical and practical steps you’ll need to take. Pack an emergency go-bag with clothes, food, water, and other essentials. Know where you will go and who to call when you decide to leave. This isn’t just about leaving an abusive partner—it could be a way to cope after a natural disaster or another life-altering event. Being prepared gives you the strength to act when it matters most. Empowerment and Advocacy The final week was also about standing strong. On the 25th of every month, we wear orange to raise awareness and stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Wearing orange signals to those in need that you are a safe person, someone they can trust. We encouraged you to print helplines, contact support organisations, and make a plan before you leave. Preparation is key. By taking these steps, you’re training your brain to cope and empowering yourself to take control of your future. A Final Word Leaving an abusive relationship takes time, courage, and preparation. It may take a month or more to feel ready, but these steps will guide you through the process. Empower yourself by knowing your rights, taking control of your environment, and planning for your safety. Today, make your bed, and share this guide—you never know, you might be the first step in someone's better tomorrow. Week 1: Focus and connect Week 2: Get organised and stay prepared Week 3: Pack your essentials and be ready for anything Week 4: Stand strong, advocate for yourself, and wear orange to show you care You’ve got this. Your better tomorrow starts today.

SA women must know their rights at a police station when confronted with officers who refuse to open a case It is time for South African women who have been subjected to gender-based violence and whose attempt to report it at a police-office only to suffer secondary victimization while police officers refuse to open cases, to remember Instruction 3 of 2011 and report police officers who stubbornly refuse to assist you, says Tina Thiart, executive trustee of the women-led organization. In light of the Apparent occurrences of difficulty in registering cases with the police all members and citizens should be aware of the following National instruction with regards to SAPS members opening cases or registering a criminal offence, Thiart says. Refusal by SAPS members in assisting complainants to open criminal dockets in terms of SAPS NATIONAL INSTRUCTION 3 OF 2011 Know your rights as a complainant 1. It has been reported that members stationed at various police stations are refusing to open cases involving women and children due to the following reasons: 1.1 The complainant cannot identify the suspect by name. 1.2 The complainant did not bring the suspect to the police station. 1.3 The crime did not happen within the stations boundary 1.4 The member who is attending to the complainant does not think that is serious enough. 1.5 Complainants are told to resolve the issue with the suspect. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE 3. National instruction 3 of 2011 regulates opening and registering of case dockets. 3.1 Section 1 of the National Instruction ; a member who receives the complaint must interview the complainant in order to see if the complaint meets the requirement for that specific crime. 3.2 According to Section 2, Complainants must never be referred to another police station even if the crime was committed in another police station area. 4. (CSC) Community Service Centre is responsible for ensuring that: 4.1 Complainants or reporters of crime , whether the crime was committed in his/her station area or in the station area of another police station, are treated courteously and that a comprehensive affidavit is taken from the complainant or reporter of the crime. 4.2 Complainants or reporters of crime are not referred to another station to lodge complaints of crime 4.3 All complaints and reports made by the public receive immediate attention. 5. Cluster commanders and Station Commander's must ensure that all members who do not comply with National instruction 3 of 2011 are subjected to disciplinary steps. Members of the public - Please report If SAPS members refuse to open your case: #SAPS National complaints centre: Tell: 080033177 or 0860264487 1000 Women Trust is a South African Women's Rights Organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For over two decades, we've been empowering GBV Community Organisations nationwide, advocating for change and resilience. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send a mail to info@1000women.co.za .

SA women must know their rights at a police station when confronted with officers who refuse to open a case It is time for South African women who have been subjected to gender-based violence and whose attempt to report it at a police-office only to suffer secondary victimization while police officers refuse to open cases, to remember Instruction 3 of 2011 and report police officers who stubbornly refuse to assist you, says Tina Thiart, executive trustee of the women-led organization. In light of the Apparent occurrences of difficulty in registering cases with the police all members and citizens should be aware of the following National instruction with regards to SAPS members opening cases or registering a criminal offence, Thiart says. Refusal by SAPS members in assisting complainants to open criminal dockets in terms of SAPS NATIONAL INSTRUCTION 3 OF 2011 Know your rights as a complainant 1. It has been reported that members stationed at various police stations are refusing to open cases involving women and children due to the following reasons: 1.1 The complainant cannot identify the suspect by name. 1.2 The complainant did not bring the suspect to the police station. 1.3 The crime did not happen within the stations boundary 1.4 The member who is attending to the complainant does not think that is serious enough. 1.5 Complainants are told to resolve the issue with the suspect. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE 3. National instruction 3 of 2011 regulates opening and registering of case dockets. 3.1 Section 1 of the National Instruction ; a member who receives the complaint must interview the complainant in order to see if the complaint meets the requirement for that specific crime. 3.2 According to Section 2, Complainants must never be referred to another police station even if the crime was committed in another police station area. 4. (CSC) Community Service Centre is responsible for ensuring that: 4.1 Complainants or reporters of crime , whether the crime was committed in his/her station area or in the station area of another police station, are treated courteously and that a comprehensive affidavit is taken from the complainant or reporter of the crime. 4.2 Complainants or reporters of crime are not referred to another station to lodge complaints of crime 4.3 All complaints and reports made by the public receive immediate attention. 5. Cluster commanders and Station Commander's must ensure that all members who do not comply with National instruction 3 of 2011 are subjected to disciplinary steps. Members of the public - Please report If SAPS members refuse to open your case: #SAPS National complaints centre: Tell: 080033177 or 0860264487 1000 Women Trust is a South African Women's Rights Organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For over two decades, we've been empowering GBV Community Organisations nationwide, advocating for change and resilience. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send a mail to info@1000women.co.za .

Police crime statistics – why 1000 Women Trust’s initiatives should be backed The announcement of the crime statistics for the period between April and the end of June 2024 on Friday 30 th August is a grim reminder that South Africa is losing the fight to protect women and children against perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide. The introduction of a national strategic plan on gender-based violence and femicide, and new laws have done very little to change the fate of South Africa’s women and girls. Crimes against women and children showed an increase, according to the released statistics. There were 966 women murdered during the three-month period from April to the end of June 2024 (an increase of 7.9%) and 1 644 attempted murders (16% increase) of women. There were 314 children murdered (a 7.2% increase), and 242 attempted murders recorded (20% increase). Rape cases increased by 0.6%, with 57 more offences reported between April and June, from 9,252 in the same period last year to 9,309. Most reported rapes happened in the residences of perpetrators, said Maj-Gen Thulare Sekhukhune, who presented the statistics. “We did a sample of 7,165 and it indicated 4,265 of the rapes happened in the residence of the perpetrator, the second is in a public place [with] 1,766 reported and we also had 91 rapes taking place in educational institutions.” Of the 91 rapes, 74 happened in schools. Why is this happening? There are three reasons. Firstly, the second pillar of the national strategic plan on GBV and Femicide is simply dysfunctional. The second pillar is about prevention of GBV and Femicide and rebuilding social cohesion. It should be addressing the root causes of GBV, like the ideas of masculinity that believe in men controlling women and ideas of femininity that promote women’s subordination of men. That pillar is falling down. The hearts and minds of men are not changing. The Human Sciences Research Council has just completed the first-ever national survey on GBV prevalence in a democratic South Africa. The study was undertaken in 2022 based on a random sample of people interviewed at home. It measured issues like physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, as well as controlling behavior between intimate partners. Among other things, the survey found that around 7 percent of women aged 18 years and older had experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months. This rate was highest among young women, black women, women who completed secondary education, and women who are unmarried but live with a partner. This figure is the equivalent of 1.5 million women. So, according to the HSRC survey, over the course of just one year, more than one and a half million women experienced physical or sexual violence in our country. 1000 Women Trust introduced ground-breaking initiatives in 2020 - #Make Time and Talking to Boys – which highlights the importance of parents’ sharing values like gender-equality, respect for women and girls and consent with young males in their foundational stages. This 1000 Women Trust-initiative should have become part of the schools curriculums all over South Africa. The strategic incentives by 1000 Women Trust to address the national scourge of bullying at schools has reached 10000 people, but it should be part of the curriculums in the 26500 public schools in the country. For it is clear that a majority of learners who are perpetrators of bullying later engage in gender-based violence. The second reason why South Africa is losing the war on gender-based violence, is that laws and national strategic plans on GBV and femicide must be policed. Differently stated, the police through effective and efficient actions, as well as the national prosecuting authority must act as a strong deterrent to perpetrators of GBV. But they fail dismally to do that. The brutal rape of a one-year old baby at a creche in Newlands-East in May this year is still unsolved. Nobody has been arrested. It is a reminder of the inability of the police to act quickly and decisively against perpetrators. What has happened to the perpetrators who raped eight Krugersdorp-women two years ago? Nothing. There are endless examples of these poor police-performances. Lastly, women-led organizations like 1000 Women Trust who play a pivotal part in creating awareness about GBV, receive very little support from government. The latest statistics proves again that 1000 Women Trust’s initiative to launch the GBV-Warriors-campaign to support and provide safe spaces for women in the period immediately after an attack at GBV advice offices in hot spots across the country, is pivotal to strengthen and mobilize communities. But 1000 Women Trust needs financial support and the backing of business and the private sector to expand that advice offices to even more GBV-hotspots in the country than the six initial offices that it plans to open. 1000 Women Trust is a South African Women's Rights Organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For more information visit www.1000women.co.za .

Mkhize, ambassador of 1000 Women Trust, shares struggles with psychological abuse Her own personal experience with a toxic relationship which ended in immense psychological abuse and required enormous effort, support and therapy to overcome, was one of the factors which motivated her to become an ambassador of 1000 Women Trust, says Ntsiki Mkhize, a former Miss South Africa second princess, author and internationally acclaimed speaker. Mkhize, founder of MentHer, a platform that shares inspirational stories of social entrepreneurs on their journey of creating social impact, is currently working on the second edition of her inaugural book, My Hall of Mentors. Mkhize was frank about her own challenges: “I have personally experienced a toxic relationship that ended in immense psychological abuse. It took a tremendous amount of effort, support and therapy to get back to feeling my old self. “Equally as a coach working with female founders, I have seen firsthand how education and financial freedom can support women to exit toxic and abusive situations. I want to be a voice to show that abuse can happen in many ways. I also want to show women that we can overcome.” She says she knows people who have experienced gender-based violence and she has been part of their support system. The most strenuous aspect of GBV has been the impact on the children, and how to support them to find stability. Asked what her advice to be on SA women who suffer from GBV, Mkhize said: “Build a body of evidence and get an exit plan.” She added that a plan to leave will help you know where to go, have some savings and know who to call. Placing clothes and important documents with someone you can trust, can assist with the process, she added. Mkhize gave her first TEDx Talk at Cumbernauld Women and was featured as the youngest speaker at the International Speakers Summit and Epic Entrepreneurs Virtual conference in 2020. Asked what her advice would be to women who want to be more successful, Mkhize said one must get clear about your own goals and what it is you want to achieve and then say it out load. “Belief and confidence are the first steps. You have to know you can do it. Then find people who can support you. Mentors and a strong network are critical,” she said. The 1000 Women Trust is a South African Women's Rights Organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For over two decades, we've been empowering GBV Community Organisations nationwide, advocating for change and resilience. For more information, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send a mail to info@1000women.co.za .

A shocking report by the Auditor-general reveals how government is abandoning women The latest report by the auditor-general that the Gauteng Department of Social Development shockingly underspend R554 million which resulted in so many NGO’s, including organizations supporting victims of gender-based violence and femicide, having had to close their doors, is an indictment of government. And it proves that the national government and provincial governments, especially under ANC-control, pays only lip service to turn the tide against the second pandemic of GBV. The Auditor-General’s report highlights severe financial mismanagement within the department, including irregular expenditure and material misstatements in the performance report. This gross negligence comes in a province where NPOs are forced to shut down due to a lack of funds and where the scars of the Life Esidimeni tragedy are still fresh. The R554 million underspend could have been used to provide vital services for older people, behaviour change programs, family preservation, and substance use treatment, as well as to support NPOs and prevent their closure, the Democratic Alliance said in a statement. One can add to this the service delivery to NGOs who are at the forefront of creating awareness of GBV and femicide and protecting vulnerable women and children. Some excellent organizations that fulfilled an indispensable role in supporting these women and children, had to close their doors. Instead, this money has been wasted and returned to the Treasury, leaving many without the support they desperately need. The DA has long criticised the department for its lack of effective planning and implementation. When we exposed these issues, it resulted in a lot of spin-doctoring, with the former MEC Mbali Hlophe accusing the DA of “peddling lies” and claiming that her department had achieved 81% of its performance targets. However, the AG’s findings confirm that our concerns were well-founded and expose the former MEC’s attempts to deflect blame and misrepresent the department’s performance. The failure to utilise these funds effectively constitutes a grave injustice against Gauteng’s poorest and most vulnerable. MEC Mazibuko must take decisive steps to clean out the department and hold the Head of Department accountable for these failures. We expect her to implement the necessary reforms and oversight within the next month to address these issues effectively, said the DA. Government is big on promises, big on document, big on policies, but strategically poor. What will stop GBV in South Africa – an enormous change in hearts and minds of men, which might take decades, even half a century, a massive improvement in effectiveness by the South African Police Services, and lastly, enormous support for the work o the NGOs who are the lifeblood of work in communities to strengthen women and children and help them to become economically active and independent citizens of this country recalibrating their lives after GBV. But in all three these areas, the government is truly in disarray. Organizations like 1000 Women Trust, the TEARS foundation and many others have had to stay afloat by excellent management and the establishment of good partnerships with donors and the private sector. Without these organizations, South Africa would have been in even deeper strife.

PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 21 ST AUGUST 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1000 Women Trust launches GBV-Warriors, Project Orange and introduces advice offices The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust has launched a national GBV-Warriors-campaign and Project Orange to provide critical support to women and children severely impacted by gender-based violence, particularly within the crucial first 24 hours after an attack. Gender-based violence in South Africa is rife. Daily, 114 women in South Africa are attacked and 170 women are sexually assaulted. Tina Thiart, executive trustee of 1000 Women Trust, said through interviews conducted with 500 community women in 2023, it was established that there is desperate need for safe spaces for women especially during the 24-hours after gender-based violence occurred. The GBV-Warriors are foot soldiers who are on the ground in communities, providing crucial support to abused women. They are women who have completed trauma and anti-bully training, facilitated #HearMeToo sessions, partnered with social workers or counsellors, have worked closely with police and have organized GBV awareness initiatives in the community, said Thiart. Project Orange, in essence, is the availability of rooms managed by trained GBV-Warriors in the community who will establish a comfortable and welcoming environment to women who are victims of GBV. There they will receive assistance in these rooms before transitioning to service providers the next day, like shelters and Thuthuzela Care Centres. But the GBV-Warriors, who have an astute knowledge of the rights of the victims, will also accompany these victims to the police stations, where, historically, GBV-victims have suffered secondary victimization. They will also aid them at courts when these women are in need of protection orders. Operating as a 24-hour emergency sanctuary, Project Orange aims to provide survivors with aid during their most vulnerable moments. “It might happen that a woman is attacked at night and have no access to a shelter, or to a Thuthuzela Care Centre, and requires a safe space with physical and emotional support for the next day. That is where Project Orange and the welcoming availability of the GBV-Warriors are life-savers,” said Thiart. Project Orange forms part of 1000 Women Trust’s comprehensive, nation-wide strategy to establish GBV Community Advice Offices in vulnerable communities. They offer physical safety, emotional support, and guidance to survivors of GBV. The Trust aims to establish a footprint of Community Advice Offices in GBV-hotspots, as identified by communities and the police. In phase one, 1000 Women Trust will establish community advice offices in Nyanga-East in the Cape Peninsula, Newlands East in Durban, in Olivenhoutbosch in Centurion and in the Wattville township in Ekurhuleni. In phase two, they will roll out community advice offices in Beaufort-West, where there is no shelter for 200 km, and at Clanwilliam, where there is no shelter. “Why the colour Orange? We utilize the colour orange as a symbol of optimism and commitment to a community free from violence,” said Thiart. “We aim to train 250 GBV-Warriors nationwide by 2025,” she added. 1000 Women Trust’s event calendar for the rest of August: Gauteng Event (Breakfast): 24 th August. Thiart will address women at the Iziko Women’s empowerment indaba in Lethabong on Saturday 24 th August. The event is co-hosted by the Champions Care Centre.For more info on the event, contact 063-9911274 or 010-0651733. -Free State Friends (Hideout Venue, 23 Floris Coetzee Rd, Rayton, Bloem): August 29 -KZN Event (Honorary Walk - Nadia Bernon): August 31. The event, at Roseland Primary school at 2 Carrupa Crescent, Newlands-East in Durban, will be a 1000 Women Festival event, which will feature a certificate ceremony, honouring GBV-life coaches and GBV-Warriors. Women requiring more information on the events, can RSVP on 0614690479. The 1000 Women Trust is a Women’s Rights Organisation operating in South Africa, dedicated to raising awareness about gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) while providing capacity-building to GBV community organisations. Press release compiled by Fanie Heyns on behalf of 1000 Women Trust. For more information, contact Tina Thiart on 0732079079, or visit the website on www.1000women.co.za

GBV-Warriors ready for lift-off as 1000 Women Trust answers community-outcries for safe spaces in hotspots The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust has announced its ground-breaking Gender-based Violence Warrior-project, a national initiative aimed at providing critical immediate assistance and safe spaces to women severely affected by gender-based violence in vulnerable communities. “Our immediate aim is to mobilise 250 GBV-Warriors in South Africa whose expertise will be utilized to support vulnerable women and are activists who strengthen their communities,” said Tina Thiart, managing tustee of 1000 Women Trust, Women who have completed the trauma and anti-bully training of 1000 Women Trust, who have facilitated #HearMeToo-sessions in their community, and who partner with the social worker in their community and work with the local police, qualify to become GBV-Warriors, said Thiart. She added that a GBV-Warrior will also organize GBV-awareness in her community. On Thursday 15 th August, 1000 Women Trust will host an event at the Peninsula Hotel in Sea Point, to celebrate the GBV-Warriors who are already active in communities and have establishing support groups for women affected by gender-based violence and sexual assaults. Shada Francis, transformational life coach and cognitive behavioral therapist, will do a presentation on the importance of self-care for activists and self-care opportunities. Claudia Roodt, clinical social worker and trauma informed trainer, and Adrie Jurgensen, brand and social media manager of 1000 Women Trust, will address the attendees on creating safe spaces and empowering young minds through trauma-informed corners. Thiart will focus on the GBV Warriors and Project Orange, empowering communities, thus leading change. The 1000 Women Trust will also host an event on 29 th August at 23 Floris Coetzee Road in Rayton Bloemfontein where women aspiring to join a growing group of GBV-Warriors will be trained, educated and equipped to become Warriors. “The GBV-Warrior-project is an answer to a collective outcry from many South African communities. They have pointed to the urgent need for immediate emergency services for women who suffer continuous abuse. A total of 112 South Africa women fall prey to rapists daily and 170 are sexually assaulted every day,” said Thiart. The objective of 1000 Women Trust is to mobilize resources to equip women’s organizations that support, raise awareness and provide opportunities for women and children who have been affected by violence. For more information about the GBV-Warriors-project and the 1000 Women Trust, please visit www.1000women.co.za .

Fourteen Women's shelters in the Western Cape face imminent closure if they don’t receive emergency funding Fourteen of the twenty shelters that form part of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter Movement (WSM) face closure imminently should they not be able to raise emergency funding, said Delene Roberts, chairperson of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter movement. Shelters are unable to raise sufficient funds to cover the deficit in their budgets after the allocation of funding received from the department of social development. One of these shelters might have to close at the end of December, while many of the other 13 could only survive for another two to three months. Letting women and children return to the homes of some of the most brutal sexual offenders and abusers in the world, is almost unthinkable for the shelter movement. Tina Thiart, director of 1000 Women Trust, a women-led organization that is at the forefront of fighting the pandemic of gender-based violence, said: “We are shocked to hear about the financial challenge of the shelters in the Western Cape. As 1000 women Trust, we have evidence that gender-based violence spike during the holidays and that many women will need shelter from 16th December when many companies close their doors. We appeal to the government to keep their promise and look at alternative funding for the shelters. The gender-based violence response fund should also provide much needed funding to the shelters. We call on women in South Africa to support the shelter movement and to donate to the shelter near you.” Roberts said the situation is exacerbated by the escalating economic crisis and rising costs for basic goods. Shelters forming part of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter Movement offer services raging from short- and long-term shelter to legal, psychological and economic empowerment services to women and children survivors of gender-based violence. Roberts explains: “We urgently need the private sector to support the fight against gender-based violence, shelters cannot do this alone.” Kathy Cronje, vice chairperson of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter Movement adds: “To put it simply, many of us will not be able to continue to offer services very shortly, if we do not receive emergency assistance.” About 310 people in 14 shelters would be affected if the shelters face closure. “One of the shelters only have enough funding until the end of December, while the others can only survive for two or three months,” Roberts continued. “If they do close, we will try and accommodate the women at the other shelters, but what happens if those shelters are full. The women might face primary abuse and trauma if they would have to go back to the homes where the perpetrators of gender-based violence live. That would be a primary trauma, and then there is secondary trauma if they have to report abuse to the police. A third level of trauma would be if they are told that the shelter movement can no longer afford to accommodate them,” said Roberts. She said she cannot speak on behalf of the other shelters, but the shelter she is involved with, will need approximately R40000 to R50 000 per month to carry on, Roberts said. More than 13000 women were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between July and the end of September 2022, while 1277 women were victims of attempted murder, and 989 women were murdered between July and September. More than 10000 rape cases were opened at SAPS during the same period. Kathy Cronjé, vice chairperson of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter movement and director at the Safe House, said the twenty managers of the Western Cape Women’s shelter movement will fight hard in order to keep the women at the shelters. “it is unthinkable to have a situation where the doors of shelters must be closed. We don’t want women to return to the homes of the offenders. “COVID 19 was horrendous because of multiple reasons but one of those was that there was donor and funding fatigue. Less money is spent on corporate social responsibility, but there is still money out there. “The scale of gender-based violence in South Africa is five times that of the global average. Why is money not pouring into South Africa to manage this crisis and eradicate gender-based violence. We at the shelters are at the coalface of the fight of gender-based violence, and we desperately need the private sector and private donors to assist us,” she added. People who want to assist the Western Cape Shelter movement, can contact Delene Roberts on 063-7745789 or manager@sisters.org.za or Kathy Cronje on on 0842079102 or kathy@thesafehouse.org.za. 1000 Women Trust is a women’s organization that aims to raise awareness around gender-based violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources. These resources make it possible for the Trust to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development. Thairt said NPOs have stepped up and are playing their part, we now ask all South Africans to support the shelters. Please contact 1000 Women Trust on 0732079079 if you need the address of a shelter near you For more information, contact 1000 Women Trust on info@1000women.co.za or visit the website on www.1000women.co.za.

PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 29 TH JULY 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1000 Women festival focus on business opportunities, vendor-sales and bullying Vendors showcasing their handmade goods, new business opportunities for unemployed women and tips when reporting gender-based violence related incidents will be some of the focal points of the 1000 Women Festival at the Artscape in Cape Town on 6 th August. The 1000 Women Festival, hosted by the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, a leading organization creating awareness of gender-based violence and bullying, is one of the annual highlights on the social calendar of Cape Town. More than 400 people are expected at the festival. Freda Camphor, assistant director of department of employment and labour, will highlight employment opportunities for the unemployed. Truida Prekel, innovation catalyst and managing director of Synnovation Solutions, will speak about innovation in business. Janine Myburgh, managing director at Myburgh Attorneys Inc, Caroline Peters, director of the Callas Foundation, and Lorraine Moko, social worker at 1000 Women Trust, will speak about new legislation pertaining to gender-based violence and will share key tips when reporting GBV. Wendy Ackerman, founding member of 1000 Women Trust, will share an introductory message. Marlene le Roux, CEO of the Artscape theatre, will welcome the guests at the 1000 Women festival. More than 10000 South Africans have already completed the trauma training course of 1000 Women Trust, while more than 5000 teachers, parents and learners have enlisted to complete its anti-bully course. The Trust’s groundbreaking work is utilized nationally in bully- and GBV-hotspots across South Africa. 1000 Women Trust recently launched a national From-Bystanders-to-Upstanders-competition to mobilise learners at the 26500 public schools to become upstanders who play an active role in exposing bullies, instead of being passive bystanders when bullying takes place. It is estimated that 3.2 million people are annually bullied, and the dynamic work done by 1000 Women Trust has transformed schools who were under siege from bullies the past year. Many schools in the Free State, Limpopo and the Western Cape are amongst the beneficiaries of the Trust’s life-changing work. Hanna Anne Barnard, Natalie Chisikane and Vaness Jacobs, winners of the national From-Bystanders-to-Upstanders-competition, will appear on the podium during the 1000 Women Festival. Lynn Hill, a 14-times global award-winning speaker, author and poet and rape survivor, will deliver a poem item. The Uncedo Lwethu-foundation will deliver a dance item. “Through the 1000 Women Festival, we want to celebrate our achievements, but also mobilize resources for our continual programs nationwide to eradicate gender-based violence and femicide,” says Tina Thiart, executive director of 1000 Women Trust. “We wish to invite women to connect with inspiring individuals and support vendors affected by gender-based violence,” Thiart said. “Don’t miss the incredible opportunity for networking and empowerment. Tickets for the 1000 Women-festival are still available for only R200 and can be booked at 0614690479. Be part of a movement that raises awareness for gender-based violence and celebrates resilience,” Thiart added. The 1000 Women Festival will start at 09:00 and finish at 15:00. Lunch will be served at 14:00. Press release compiled by Fanie Heyns. For more information, contact Tina Thiart on 0732079079 or visit the 1000 Women Trust on www.1000women.co.za .

Family asks questions about police’s failure to properly investigate murder of Eden Moonsamy Renewed questions are being asked about the failure of the South African Police Services to investigate femicide and gender-based violence in the wake of the murder of the 19-year old Eden Moonsamy in December last year. Moonsamy was murdered in Bellair in Ethekwini – apparently by her former boyfriend - and passed away on 23rd December last year. According to the death certificate she died of unnatural causes. She suffered blunt force trauma to the head. Yet the police have failed to do a full and thorough investigation, says Kathreen Moonsamy, mother of Eden. And nobody has been charged for the murder, despite the fact that the former boyfriend and his family were there with Eden before and after her attack. Moonsamy was taken to hospital by her former boyfriend, who subsequently phoned Kathreen to tell her she is in hospital due to a “panic attack.” When Eden’s father visited the hospital where she was on a ventilator, he saw that she had bruises and cuts across her body. “She was brain dead the moment she arrived at hospital and passed away seven days later,” says Moonsamy. The investigator did not take statements from Eden’s friends. One of the close friends of Eden claim that the boyfriend of Eden assaulted her with a firearm on several occasions. The former boyfriend, who is suspected of committing the murder, was very controlling of my daughter, said Kathreen. “He apparently had a hold on her and she was afraid of him,” Moonsamy said. “I have tried in vain to get the investigating officer to open a docket of murder. When I asked him why they don’t investigate further, he says it is complicated. I phoned the office of the regional police commissioner, and they have appointed a brigadier who is a detective. “The brigadier said to me this case is not complicated. She died of unnatural causes and a blunt object might have been used. What is complicated,” said Kathreen Moonsamy. Kathreen says she does not trust the police. “They did not gather all information necessary for a proper case to be investigated. They did not even apply for a section 205,” said Moonsamy. Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act states that a public prosecutor can request the attendance before him of any person who is required to give information about an alleged offense. “And if they fail to conduct a proper investigation, I will approach all the relevant media houses in South Africa to expose the poor investigative work by the police and their failure to act to bring justice. I am reliving a nightmare, my baby was taken away from me and the police don’t investigate,” said Kathreen Moonsamy. In May this year, the South African Police Services admitted in parliament that over 5.4 million case dockets were closed due to insufficient evidence or leads since the 2018/2019 financial year. Averaging over 1 million cases per year, it means that almost 3,000 cases are closed daily by the SAPS without victims of crime ever receiving justice. Included in these 3,000 cases closed daily, are gruesome murders, rapes of family members, brutal assaults and kidnappings. The 1000 Women Trust is a women’s organization that aims to raise awareness around gender-based violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources. These resources make it possible for us to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development. “We support the Moonsamy family and we constantly pursue advocacy in order to expose poor leadership by the police and the department of social development,” said Tina Thiart, executive director of 1000 Women Trust. For more information about the Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or phone us on 061-4690479.

The budget allocation of R2.177 billion to the presidential VIP protection unit, almost R600 million more than the R1.485 billion to the family violence and child protection unit of the police, has raised concerns, anger and disbelief amongst activists and experts who believes it reflects the government’s misplaced priorities. Tina Thiart, executive director of 1000 Women Trust, says the allocation of R4.099 billion to VIP protection of which R2.177 billion will be spent on protecting the president and vice-president, versus the R1.485 billion to eradicating gender-based violence, just underlines the lack of political will of government to eradicate GBV and femicide. “The total police budget is R113 billion, of which R1.485 billion is invested in the protection and the eradicating gender-based violence. How do you stop this second pandemic, which has seen the rape of 42 500 women the past 365 days and the 12282 sexual attacks on women in the last quarter of 2023, by investing so little resources and money into protecting women. Government merely pays lip-service to the protection of women and children,” Thiart said. There were several high-profile gender-based violence and femicide cases in South Africa in 2024. In January 2024, Thando Mkhize, a well-known activist, was tragically murdered. Her death caused widespread protests and renewed calls for stronger measures against GBV. In March 2024, Noluthando Dlamini, a university student, was brutally attacked and left for dead. Her case highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by young women in educational institutions. Zanele Khumalo, a prominent businesswoman, was found dead in her home in May 2024. The circumstances of her death have led to a high-profile investigation and significant media-coverage. These cases underscore the urgent need for consistent efforts to combat GBVF and support survivors in South Africa. But South Africa will not be able to combat GBVF when government does not put their money where their mouths are. Mbali Shongwe, a prominent GBV change advocate and activist, said: “Allocating R600 million more to the protection of VIP-individuals in the presidency, as opposed to channeling those funds to the millions of women and children who are severely at risk, displays a nonchalant and selfishness by our government towards executing solutions that will actually bring about change in our country,” she told Briefly News. Dr. Lesedi Mahlangu, a sociologist specialising in gender studies, said the allocation of such a significant amount of money to VIP Protection rather than to GBV prevention efforts is troubling. It sends a message that the safety of a select few is prioritized over the wellbeing of millions of vulnerable citizens. This not only undermines the fight against GBV but also perpetuates a cycle of inequality and injustice, she told Briefly News. 1000 Women Trust is one of the leading women-led organizations that raises awareness around gender-based violence, rape and abuse. The Trust mobilizes resources that make it possible for the Trust to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills-development. For more information, contact 1000 Women Trust on www.1000women.co.za , or email us on info@1000women.co.za

“If there is anything I can share with other women in an abusive relationship, it would be not to linger,” says Bianca Charles of Fishhoek,loving wife, mother of two and newly appointed Administrative Manager at the 1000 Women Trust. “Trust your instincts. And when you realize you are in such a relationship, you must try and get out. Because serial abusers’ conduct is progressive. They start by smacking you, then they push you and then they punch,” she added, all while grooming you to believe you deserved it for some reason. Charles endured the physical violence and the constant harassment of a heavy drinking stepfather, and later suffered at the hands of an abusive boyfriend, but has transformed her life to become a well-respected Administrative Manager of 1000 Women Trust. Charles grew up living in Pollsmoor where her stepfather was a warden. After matric she studied B.Comm at the University of Cape Town and later on, worked for 15 years at the City of Cape Town, training personnel in the revenue department. She acquired an in-depth experience in all office logistics, report witing, handling of cash and assets, written correspondence and managing of staff and HR-matters, which has equipped he to work under a high level of stress, to multitask various tasks and meeting deadlines. In April 2024, she started working at 1000 Women Trust as the administrator. She also participated in the Trauma support training course provided by 1000 Women. Trauma had been part of her life for many years as she suffered at the hands of an abusive stepfather. “He and his colleagues – wardens at Pollsmoor – drank excessively – not only on weekends but even during the week. We will come home from school and they would be passed out on the couch. And we will be woken up by a screaming mother late at night and would then run to the telephone booth to phone granny to come and fetch us as we were not safe,” she said. “My sister would not be allowed to sit on the lap of my mother, as my stepfather was jealous,” she said. “This physical abuse persisted for many years. Luckily my mother divorced my stepfather when I was in matric,” she added. Charles said she and her sister felt resentment and anger towards her mother for marrying the stepfather and not protecting them from him. “When I did the trauma training course of 1000 Women Trust, it helped me to bury the grievances and I was reconciled with my mother, as it helped me to understand that a lifetime of her own trauma played a role in obscuring her life decisions,” Charles said. Her ex-boyfriend, the father to her 16-year old daughter, was very abusive. He not only hurt her physically, but constantly abused her mentally and emotionally, draining her self-esteem for many years. . She left him after a while. Charles is now happily married to a caring and supportive husband. Charles said the course material of the trauma training of 1000 Women Trust was not the only helpful resource for her. Even the anti-bullying material of 1000 Women Trust assisted her in giving guidelines to her seven-year old son Hugo when at school. The 1000 Women Trust is a women’s organization aiming to raise awareness around gender-based violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources that make it possible for the Trust to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development.

Newlands-East activists bemoan poor medical work, police inaction after rape of 1-year old  Poor work by medical professionals at state hospitals in the Durban-area and strong indications that the alleged rapist of a one-year old baby at a creche in Newlands-East is being protected by his sister, a police captain in Durban, has caused an outcry amongst gender-based violence activists in South Africa. Dr Nadia Bernon, rapid response team leader on gender-based violence and femicide for the Newlands-East Ward 11-area in Durban, said the baby girl, aged 1, was raped at a creche in Newlands-East on the 6 th May 2024. A district-general confirmed less than two days ago that she was raped. “It was reported at a police-station almost immediately, but since then there has been no feedback, no follow-up and no arrest. No justice has been served for the baby girl and her family,” said Dr Bernon. Dr Bernon is also angry at the medical injustice done to the baby girl. “On the day of the rape that took place, the family went to a doctor at St. George’s Hospital who investigated the injuries sustained. But she wrongly dismissed the injury as an infection and prescribed an anti-biotic.” Later, on at the Addington-hospital, a government hospital, a district-surgeon admitted that he had no rape kit to test and treat the baby girl. “There were two medical injustices that contributed to the fact that when the tests were later submitted to the police laboratories, the tests results were inconclusive, said Dr Bernon. The district-surgeon at the Mahatma Gandhi-hospital who confirmed that the baby was raped, has recently asked why no arrests has not been made. “She was definitely raped, so why has nobody been apprehended,” he asked. Dr Bernon also said that one at least one occasion, the mother and grandmother of the baby girl suffered secondary victimization at the Newlands-East police officers. “The police officers has harassed the mother and grandmother,” Dr Bennon said. Activists claim that a man married to the owner of the creche who has had a history of being a sexual predator for 30 years is a suspect. But he has been protected by his sister, a police captain. At a young age, he raped his baby brother. Later on, he even raped his stepdaughter. But he is being protected by his wife and his sister, said Dr Bernon. “The provincial deputy commissioner of police promised in KwaZulu-Natal promised on national TV that the case will be investigated as a matter or surgery. At least three weeks later, nothing has happened. The case is still with a senior prosecutor of the National Prosecuting Authority, but nothing has happened,” Dr Bernon said. Tina Thiart, executive director of 1000 Women Trust, announced that 1000 Women Trust will establish a GBV Community advice office as part of its Project Orange in support of the rapid response team on gender-based violence and femicide of the Newlands-East Ward 11-area and other activists in the Durban area. Project Orange seeks to address the urgent need for immediate assistance and safe spaces for individuals affected by GBV, particularly within the first 24 hours. The project aim to provide rooms for GBV-survivors in six regional advice offices run by trained GBV Warriors and establish a comfortable and homely environment where women can receive support and assistance. These 24-hour emergency offices are being established in 2024 in key GBV-hotspots in Beaufort-West, Ekurhuleni, Graafwater, Nyanga East, Centurion and Newlands-East. “With the establishment of safe spaces and the commitment of trained GBV Warriors, we aim to provide survivors with the support they need during the most vulnerable moments,” said Thiart. Thiart said it is incumbent upon the new minister of police, Senzo Mchunu, and the new government of national unity to come to the party and declare a war on gender-based violence. They must address the abject failure of the police to assist women and children who are subjected to gender-based violence. The lack of government resources in dealing with gender-based violence is alarming. They solely depend on NPOs for assistance and that is why the NPOs established the Rapid Response Team mandate for direct referral pathways and effective services that close the gaps on secondary victimization, said Thiart. 1000 Women Trust is a women-led organization that stand with survivors and the organizations supporting them. We believe in equipping women with knowledge skills, and resources to chart their own paths towards solutions. We aim to inspire, educate and empower women, driving towards gender-equality in our communities. For more information, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za , send an email to info@1000women.co.za , or phone us on 0614690479

In a heartfelt initiative aimed at making a meaningful and lasting impact, The 1000 Women Trust, in partnership with Badisa, Little Seeds ECDs, and Max & Me, is proud to announce the launch of the Mandela Day project: Paws and Peace Corners. Creating Safe Spaces for Children The Paws and Peace Corners will be installed in various locations where children spend their time, such as Early Childhood Development Centres, classrooms, offices, police stations, hospitals, and doctor's rooms. These spaces are designed to help children deal with emotions, build empathy, and develop healthy ways to manage frustration, anger, and stress. Introducing Max, the English Bulldog A unique feature of these corners is the presence of Max, a lovable English Bulldog. Max serves as a comforting figure for children, encouraging them to express their feelings and talk about anything that bothers them. Even very young children, who may not yet have the words to express their emotions, can use the Emotion Cards—featuring images of a cartoon dog depicting various feelings such as fear, frustration, anger, hurt, joy, and love—to communicate their emotional state. Aims of the Paws and Peace Corners Emotional Identification and Impulse Regulation: Help children identify their emotions and learn to manage them appropriately. Empathy and Respect: Foster empathy and respect for others. Calming Tools and Activities: Provide children with tools and activities to calm down before acting out. Appropriate Management of Stress: Teach children how to manage frustration, anger, and stress in a healthy way. Why This Matters Adrie Jurgensen, also known as the Mommy Bulldog and the brand and social media specialist at 1000 Women Trust, who is also the inventor of Max & Me, explains, “We expect kids to always behave and be in control, but we don’t always know how to handle it when they act out. Research shows that children who bully often become perpetrators of gender- based violence (GBV) later in life. By addressing these issues at their root cause in an age- appropriate and non-scary way, we can help children learn to trust, express themselves, and build healthy relationships both now and in the future.” How to Partner with Us The 1000 Women Trust invite individuals and organisations to sponsor a Paws and Peace Corner. The goal is to establish 20 corners, with the estimated cost per corner being R1000. This includes a sticker, a dog, and a toolkit with two stories, the Emotion Cards, and colouring pages. Additionally, we welcome donations of fidget toys, colouring pencils, soft pillows, and English Bulldogs (toys or handmade). Patterns will be available on Social Media page for those interested in crafting their own contributions. Contact Information Any donations can be sent to our office at Ivanhoe Rd, Fish Hoek, Cape Town, 7974 Western Cape, South Africa . To get involved or sponsor a Paws and Peace corner, send an email to info@1000women.co.za or call 061 460 0479 . Together, we can create a brighter, safer future for our children.  Join us in making a difference this Mandela Day.

CAPE TOWN - 1000 Women Trust, a leading women-led organisation dedicated to combating gender-based violence and bullying, is proud to announce the launch of a national From-Bystander-to-Upstander competition. This initiative aims to mobilise learners across South African schools to address bullying through creative mediums such as posters, songs, poems, stories, or graffiti. With the distribution of 20,000 pamphlets to schools, 1000 Women Trust invites participation in the competition, encouraging schools to showcase how the 5 D's of being an upstander can be utilised to intervene when bullying occurs at schools. Learners are invited to use the 5 D’s - Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct - as strategies to stand up against bullying, shifting from passive bystanders to proactive upstanders. Tina Thiart, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee at 1000 Women Trust, explains the significance of the 5 D's: "A bystander witnesses bullying and does nothing, whereas an upstander takes action against it by employing the 5 Ds. These strategies include distracting the bully, delegating to seek help, discreetly documenting the incident, delaying to emotionally support the victim, or directly intervening." Schools and learners are encouraged to depict one or all of the 5 D’s through creative resources such as stories, poems, posters, or graffiti, fostering awareness of bullying and promoting a supportive school environment. Thiart emphasizes the impact of encouraging bystanders to become upstanders: "Encouraging more bystanders to become helpful rather than hurtful can significantly reduce the impact of bullying and create a more supportive environment." The competition offers cash prizes, with R1000 awarded to the most effective depiction of one of the five D’s, R750 for second place, and R500 for third place. Entries can be submitted by tagging #1000WomenVoice on social media, emailing info@1000women.co.za , or sending a WhatsApp message to 061 469 0479. The competition deadline is Thursday 27 June 2024. Among the participating schools is WSM Malotle Primary School in Brandfort, where 11-year-old Kamogelo Leepile tragically lost his life in a bully-related incident in May 2024. Following the incident, 17 teachers from the school approached 1000 Women Trust to undergo the anti-bullying course. DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR SCHOOL:

Three female teachers killed by boyfriends left Vereeniging-schools in need of counselling Schools in Vereeniging bear the brunt of the tragic deaths of three 33-year old female teachers who were murdered by their boyfriends in 2024, and are struggling to come to terms with the femicides, says Ntolo Nthoroane, an educational convenor and social worker at the Kgomoco Primary School. Femicide is generally understand to involve the intentional murder of women because they are women, but broader definitions include any killins of women or girls. Refilwe Majatladi, a teacher at Mahareng Secondary School, Palesa Mofokeng, a teacher at Riverside High and Stella Skhosan, a teacher at Thuto-Lore Comprehensive School, were all murdered by their boyfriends of former boyfriends in 2024. “These femicides have left many learners and teachers at schools in this (Vereeniging ) area deeply traumatized. These schools are in dire need of counselling to come to terms with these tragic events,” said Nthoroane. “We are hoping that 1000 Women Trust can make their trauma councilors available to the schools in Vereeniging where many learners and teachers are adversely affected,” she added. “We are doing group work with women and men to talk about the root causes of gender-based violence,” she said. “I believe these femicides were caused by boyfriends who wanted to have ownership of their girlfriends and when the relationships broke down, they tried to maintain ownership by killing their girlfriends,” said Nthoroane. “The scale of femicides is horrible and the schools are feeling it deeply because three female teachers who were only 33 years old, died during this year at the hand of their boyfriends. “We are doing specific work with male teachers in our school environments with regards to how they process emotions in everyday life,” she added. “A priest at a memorial service of one of the three women said the murder made him ashamed to be a man,” said Nthoroane. Nthoroane said one of the most alarming aspects of life at schools in the Vereeniging-area is that bullying is rife, especially in secondary schools. The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust estimates that bullying affects 57 % of learners in SA schools and that 90 % of bullies go on to become perpetrators of gender-based violence. The murder-rate of women has increased from 10 murders per 100000 women in 2021 to 13 per 100000 in 2023 according to the latest crime statistics released by the SA police service. In 2021, 3121 women were reported killed, an average of 8.6 women a day. In 2023, that number increased to 3880, an average of 10.6 women a day. South Africa’s gender-based violence rate is one of the worst in the world. 1000 Women Trust is one of the organizations in South Africa spearheading the fight against gender-based violence. The organization has also impacted the lives of at least 5000 teachers and parents with its ant-bullying-toolkit. Currently, 550 people are doing 1000 Women Trust’s anti-bullying course on-line. The 1000 Women Trust is a women’s organization that aim to raise awareness around gender-based violence, rape and abuse and mobilize resources. These resources make it possible for the Trust to assist women-led organizations with grants and skills development. For more information, contact the Trust on 061-4690479 .

Beds, meals, employment, trauma training…Julies never turns a blind eye A bed and a meal for 100 homeless kids every day, a safe space for abused women and hope for young people seeking employment…Esmé Julies has been a tireless advocate for these homeless people for the past 14 years. And she is not about to abdicate her work, despite the fact that she has a meagre income. She also empowers so many toddlers and teenagers with anti-bullying life skills that she sourced from the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust. And she regularly assists women subjected to gender-based violence, with trauma training counselling that was provided by a mentor, Tina Thiart, director of 1000 Women Trust. Julies has overcome immense adversity, yet she is constantly opening her home in Kalkfontein to homeless and hurting children. “i drew inspiration for my work from my mother in Kleinvlei, Eersterivier, who often fed homeless strangers,” says Julies. “And in my own home in Kalkfontein and in Serepta, I have continued the work of feeding strangers, and caring for homeless people, including the most vulnerable of these people who are abandoned children and young women who have nowhere else to go. “Instead of turning people away, I have sourced planks of wood and used it to construct separate rooms in which I now accommodate 30 people,” she adds. In addition to this, Julies buys food and cooks for a hundred people every day out of her own pocket. Addressing the multiple factors that lead to a life on the streets, Julies also assists children with their homework, prepares unemployed youth in their search for a job, gives anti-bullying classes to all the children and offers trauma counselling to abused women. “Sometimes all someone needs to get back on their feet is to know that someone cares,” she says. “My work started in 2010 when we took in a Zimbabwean woman who was previously raped,” she said. “The work grew over time.” “Right now I am caring for a little girl of nine who were raped by several older boys,” she says. Julies not only opens her home as director of the NGO Women rebuilding broken hearts. Every day, I share the anti-bullying-toolkit of 1000 Women Trust with several children at my home – sometimes close to 100 of them. “It has worked, as some of the former bullies are now working for me,” says Julies. “I also share 1000 Women Trust’s trauma training material not only with women in Kalkfontein, but also at two venues in Delft and do it very often,” she adds. Julies suffered severe physical, emotional and financial abuse from her husband, who also had a relationship with another woman. “I left the home, went to the police and eventually won back my house in court. Today, I inspire other women who were also subjected to gender-based violence. “My message to other women who suffer through gender-based violence is: leave the house and go to a safe space. “And my message to children who are being bullied is to tell your parents and the school. Don’t be silent. Because bullies want to take control of you. And as parent, make sure you have access to your children’s social media, so they don’t become silent about bullying and don’t share it with you,” she says. Julies is doing her incredible and life-changing work while being a freelance cleaning service agent. She often employs women to assist her with this cleaning service wherever she is needed. Her cleaning service is called Esme’s Projects. She can be contacted on 068-2424746. 1000 Women Trust is a South African women-led organization dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For over two decades, 1000 Women Trust has been empowering community-based organizations nationwide, advocating for change and resilience. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send an email to info@1000women.co.za

Beds, meals, employment, trauma training…Julies never turns a blind eye A bed and a meal for 100 homeless kids every day, a safe space for abused women and hope for young people seeking employment…Esmé Julies has been a tireless advocate for these homeless people for the past 14 years. And she is not about to abdicate her work, despite the fact that she has a meagre income. She also empowers so many toddlers and teenagers with anti-bullying life skills that she sourced from the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust. And she regularly assists women subjected to gender-based violence, with trauma training counselling that was provided by a mentor, Tina Thiart, director of 1000 Women Trust. Julies has overcome immense adversity, yet she is constantly opening her home in Kalkfontein to homeless and hurting children. “i drew inspiration for my work from my mother in Kleinvlei, Eersterivier, who often fed homeless strangers,” says Julies. “And in my own home in Kalkfontein and in Serepta, I have continued the work of feeding strangers, and caring for homeless people, including the most vulnerable of these people who are abandoned children and young women who have nowhere else to go. “Instead of turning people away, I have sourced planks of wood and used it to construct separate rooms in which I now accommodate 30 people,” she adds. In addition to this, Julies buys food and cooks for a hundred people every day out of her own pocket. Addressing the multiple factors that lead to a life on the streets, Julies also assists children with their homework, prepares unemployed youth in their search for a job, gives anti-bullying classes to all the children and offers trauma counselling to abused women. “Sometimes all someone needs to get back on their feet is to know that someone cares,” she says. “My work started in 2010 when we took in a Zimbabwean woman who was previously raped,” she said. “The work grew over time.” “Right now I am caring for a little girl of nine who were raped by several older boys,” she says. Julies not only opens her home as director of the NGO Women rebuilding broken hearts. Every day, I share the anti-bullying-toolkit of 1000 Women Trust with several children at my home – sometimes close to 100 of them. “It has worked, as some of the former bullies are now working for me,” says Julies. “I also share 1000 Women Trust’s trauma training material not only with women in Kalkfontein, but also at two venues in Delft and do it very often,” she adds. Julies suffered severe physical, emotional and financial abuse from her husband, who also had a relationship with another woman. “I left the home, went to the police and eventually won back my house in court. Today, I inspire other women who were also subjected to gender-based violence. “My message to other women who suffer through gender-based violence is: leave the house and go to a safe space. “And my message to children who are being bullied is to tell your parents and the school. Don’t be silent. Because bullies want to take control of you. And as parent, make sure you have access to your children’s social media, so they don’t become silent about bullying and don’t share it with you,” she says. Julies is doing her incredible and life-changing work while being a freelance cleaning service agent. She often employs women to assist her with this cleaning service wherever she is needed. Her cleaning service is called Esme’s Projects. She can be contacted on 068-2424746. 1000 Women Trust is a South African women-led organization dedicated to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). For over two decades, 1000 Women Trust has been empowering community-based organizations nationwide, advocating for change and resilience. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send an email to info@1000women.co.za

Delft-police violated human rights of rape victim by turning person away, demanding a witness, warns experts Care-givers and NGOs leading the fight against gender-based violence in the Western Cape are appalled at what they call repeated critical failures by police-officers after a police officer at the Delft Police station’s community service centre turned away a rape victim on Tuesday 7 th May and demanded that the survivo brings a witness before a case can be opened. Dr Genine Josias, medical coordinator at the Thuthuzela Clinical Forensic Centre at the Karl Bremer Hospital, said on Facebook that a person reported the rape at the police station in Delft, a GBV-hotspot in the Western Cape, on Tuesday afternoon, 7 th May. The police officer questioned why the victim waited so long to open a case and then told the survivor to bring a witness before the case can be opened. Apparently, the witness walked in on the crime but was not available to accompany the survivor to the police station, so the victim and the witness returned to Delft police station the following morning, Wednesday 8 th May, Dr Josias said. She said this wrong actions by the police is not an isolated incident, but happens repeatedly and affects rape-survivors as some of the traumatized victims might decide not to return the next day. “The police must open the case immediately and should not be asking rape survivors for witnesses. They also should not question why they waited 48 hours as many victims suffer severe trauma and don’t report it immediately.” she said. She said the action by the police-officer is not an isolated incident, but this is a serial offense as it happens again and again. “This is not the first time that police wrongly turn rape survivors away. We report it via email to the police via email as requested by management, but they repeat this,” Josias said. “There is no political will,” she said on Facebook. “There are no consequences. There are no checks and balances. The police officer is not even identifiable. Where are the cameras in the charge offices of the police stations or so-called community service centres,”she asked. Tina Thiart, executive trustee of 1000 Women Trust, women-led organization that have been fighting gender-based violence the past 21 years, said: “We at 1000 Women Trust are appalled at the behaviour of the police. We urge women who experience bad service at the police station to report it to us and to the IPID on its hotline number of 0800 111969 . It is due to the action of police officers like the one in Delft that the conviction rate of sexual offenses is so low. Thiart said when 1000 Women Trust facilitated #HearMeToo-groups the past three years where women all over the country shared their experiences about GBV in groups of 30. “The common theme at these sessions were that women often experienced animosity at police stations, and cases were not opened against perpetrators of GBV. Despite the fact that three new GBV-laws were promulgated in 2022, we have not turned the tide against gender-based violence because we lose the battle at ground level – due to the attitudes of the male offenders, and the lack of empathetic assistance and pro-active help at police stations,” she said. More than 42000 South African women were raped in the previous year and 15284 women were sexually assaulted from 1 st September to 31 st December 2023. According to the Women’s Legal Centre, the conviction rate of sexual assaults in South Africa is between 5 and 6 %. “As health workers, we have a 72-hour deadline in which to give HIV prevention medication to rape victims,” said Dr Josias. “Due to the victim being turned away at Delft Police Station, the client missed the 72 hour deadline, which expired on Tuesday evening. This police officer violated the human rights of this victim in more ways than one. In fact, this victim can sue the SAPS for failing to assist timeously. The investigation officer of the FCS unit was not informed that a victim reported a rape at Delft police station on Tuesday afternoon. If the officers of the family violence, child protection sexual offenses unit or FCS received HIV prevention medication, the hiv status of the rapist is unknown, so all victims of rape must be encouraged to access medical services as soon as possible after a rape. At the Thuthuzela centre, containment counselling, prevention of STIs as well as emergency contraception in certain instances are provided. Victims are also provided with the option to take a shower and a comfort pack with toiletries are provided . Social workers are also called in if the victim is not safe to return home. Services at the Thuthuzela centres are free. Dr Josias said the investigating officers of the family violence, child protection sexual offenses unit (or FCS) are not paid overtime on public holidays and weekends yet the police management expect them to work overtime and act by which the police fails the victims of gender-based violence in South Africa. In every charge office of all police stations, there should be large posters, advising victims of sexual offenses to go directly to a Thuthuzela centre or the nearest health facility, especially if the police office turns people away. The contact number and address of the nearest Thuthuzela centre of health facility should be displayed on these posters, said Dr Josias. Caroline Peters, director of the Dallas-foundation fighting GBV, said on Facebook: “All police officers at stations should receive training on handling situation when people report GBV.”

PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 11 TH MAY 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1000 Women Trust reach out with anti-bullying toolkit in wake of Brandfort-tragedy The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust who have developed a comprehensive anti-bullying toolkit to equip thousands of South African teachers, says that in the wake of a tragic bully-related death of an 11-year old boy in Brandfort, it would like to partner with teachers and educational departments to share their anti-bullying resources on how to report the scourge and root out a culture of bullying in schools. Tina Thiart, executive trustee of 1000 Women Trust, spoke in the wake of an incident on Wednesday 8 th May where Kamogelo Leepile, an 11-year old boy-learner from WSM Malotle Primary School in Brandfort, Free State, was stabbed and killed by a 9-year old grade 4-learner form a neighbouring Monamodi Primary School. “We have heard about the terrible incident and want to express our heartfelt condolences with the family of Kamogelo,” Thiart said. “The incident greatly saddens us and we wish to reach out to school communities who battle to deal with a culture of bullying. We have compiled an anti-bullying toolkit which will provide resources for teachers, parents, schools and educational departments to address bullying in all forms. It can be accessed on www.antibully.co.za . “There are also a range of values that parents can share with their school-going children in order to train them to be non-violent and respectful to other learners. It can be accessed on www.talkingtoboys.co.za ,” Thiart said. “We also provide regular anti-bullying training to teachers and parents, which has been very popular. Since its inception, more than 5000 parents and teachers have received training. Teachers who want to access training, can WhatsApp Thiart on 073-2079079 . “We have also trained trauma councillors that visit schools to share the necessary skills with teachers on how to address bullying. When a learner at a Limpopo school committed suicide in 2021, we partnered with the Limpopo department of education and sent trauma councillors to four schools in the region in order to share important skills with teachers on anti-bullying mechanisms,” Thiart said. “We do have the man-power, the skills and the resources to assist schools as we are grieving the untimely and continuous harm to bullied children in South Africa,” Thiart added. Thiart said the best deterrent to bullying and cyberbullying in schools is to create a culture of acceptance and communication. Such a culture empowers learners to find positive ways to revolve conflicts, while counting on the administration, teachers and other staff who can support learners in making constructive decisions and respond proactively when aggression of any kind exists on the school campus. Schools must establish an anti-bullying policy with input from all members of your school community to determine how your school will implement rules of conduct. Put into action a school-wide plan – disseminate a bullying prevention plan that involves all adults on campus in knowing how to support positive behaviour, address unacceptable actions and refer learners who need additional counselling. Participate in anti-bullying campaigns and organise workshops for teachers and parents. Daniel Moloi, director of the Agape Foundation of Community Building, who attended the 1000 Women Trust anti-bullying course, endorsed and applauded the course, saying it is practical, hard-hitting and user-friendly for learners. “It creates awareness of bullying and how it can be prevented. We presented the material at a primary school in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality and it had a profound impact. “The material corresponds with the life skills material and is compliant with the school safety framework of the department of education,” Moloi said. Press release compiled on behalf of 1000 Women Trust by Fanie Heyns. For more information, contact Tina Thiart on 073-2079079 or Adrie Jurgensen on 083-4418256 .

The three new GBV-laws which were signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2022, aimed at strengthening efforts to end gender-based violence in South Africa, were a major factor in enforcing the legal framework against these crimes. Yet many South African women still face major social and economic barriers before they report the violence they are subjected to, said Andrea-Joy Jantjies, associate of the Women’s Legal Centre. The three new GBV-laws are the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act. Jantjies said many SA women who are in relationships with their perpetrators are dependent on the perpetrator of gender-based violence for economic support for themselves and the children. Other barriers include, legal illiteracy, which means victims are not always aware of their legal rights. Another barrier is that women who want to report abuse still have to pay transportation costs when going to the police and some of them simply don’t have the means. When women do report the matter to the police, they are sometimes told that is a private matter between a man and his partner. There remains a need for further awareness raising to change attitudes of service providers that confines domestic violence to the private sphere, because this contributes to a culture of impunity. A lack of victim support also contributes to the fact that some women withdraw the case against the perpetrators after they have reported the abuse. Police are supposed to provide victims with a list of available shelters where they can feel safe and are not intimidated by the perpetrator, but they don’t always provide that information to women who suffer from gender-based violence. The lack of knowledge by the victims of their rights and of the three new GBV-laws still undermines the effectiveness of these laws. For example, the safety monitoring notice will make sure that a police official will check on victims’ safety regularly by telephone or in person for a specified period, but many women are not aware of this additional protective mechanism to ensure their safety. “There are mandatory and effective training of various departments of the police and the judiciary with regards to the GBV laws, but constant capacity building is required with regards to this training of the judiciary and the police,” said Jantjies. The three new GBV-laws do not address the culture and violence against women in South Africa by predominantly men, evidenced by the fact that from 1 st September 2023 until 31 st December last year there were 18254 sexual offences reported – 168.9 per day - an indication of how much GBV is still the second pandemic. “The numbers of GBV-victims are staggering and are comparable to countries actively at war. The reality is that one in every five women in South Africa is a victim of gender-based violence,” said Jantjies. “The patriarchal norms in society as well as the legacy of violence and poverty contribute to the perpetuation of gender-based violence. And so often women are stigmatized and wrongly blamed for GBV,” said Jantjies.

The three new GBV-laws and the new dedicated desks at police offices in gender-based violence hotspots will strengthen women in the fight against the second pandemic, said Leonora Sauls, new trustee of 1000 Women Trust. Sauls is also the head of philanthropy of the Ackerman Family Foundation. Know the GBV-laws is part of a new campaign by 1000 Women Trust to challenge women around the country to equip themselves legally in case of domestic violence. The three new GBV-laws are: the criminal Law (sexual offences and related matters) amendment act, the criminal and related matters amendment act and the domestic violence amendment act. Said Sauls: The domestic violence amendment bill expands the definition of domestic violence to include actions as controlling or bullying behaviour and makes provisions for protecting people in engagements, dating and in customary relationships. The criminal and related matters amendment bill amends various laws that address GBV and offences committed against vulnerable people, she said. It also provides for additional procedures to reduce secondary victimisation of vulnerable people in court proceedings. It further regulates protection orders in response to domestic violence, she added. Sauls said: “Government is making progress in establishing dedicated desks at police stations in GBV hotspots. The desks are staffed by police officers who are specifically trained to provide victim-centred assistance and support. There are now 134 desks in operation and the goal is to have a GBV desk in all police stations countrywide. In my view, these bills as well as the GBV desks will strengthen the fight against GBV,” she added. Asked how gender equality in the South African workplace can be enhanced, Sauls said there must be a rethink of systems. Senior leaders must consider and understand what organizational policies and practices may be seen as supportive or dismissive of talented women, and shift toward more inclusive leadership . Best-practice organizations have an all-encompassing, systematic agenda to tackle gender equity in the workplace and are focused on supporting, retaining, and promoting diversity of all kinds. She said another way of enhancing gender equality in the workplace is to establish and execute flexible work agreements. Flexible work arrangements can take many forms, and even before the pandemic, flexibility was frequently cited as one of the key things wanted by women in the workplace . With the global shift toward more hybrid and remote ways of working, your organization will surely improve employee retention post-pandemic with flexible work arrangements . But even more important than establishing flexible policies is ensuring that employees feel truly “safe” to take advantage of them, said Fauls. Asked what other steps could be taken to eradicate the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa, Sauls highlighted the following steps. Women’s full participation in civil society Programs that will facilitate financial independence for women. Providing accessible GBV clinical services in lower tier health facilities Addressing the needs of child survivors of gender-based violence. Support programs for all women in and outside of the workplace

The courageous and tireless gender advocate Marinda Lottering is waging war with limited resources against perpetrators of gender-based violence in the Central-Karoo who use their economic power as leverage to attack and assault helpless women – something that has become endemic in Beaufort-Wes and Laingsburg. Lottering has started a temporary emergency shelter in the heart of Beaufort-West in order to cater for women who are subjected to gender-based violence. These women, who lay charges at the police station, normally awaits transport to the closest shelter in Laingsburg, but Lottering does not want to leave them on the street while they wait. The facility will also serve as a GBV advice office for women in Beaufort West. “Last year, 1000 Women Trust and I had a Karoo-project where we held meetings and workshops for women who were victims of gender-based violence. The purpose of those meetings in Beaufort-West was to empower women on what they are to do when they are subjected to gender-based violence, where to go to for assistance, how to apply for an eviction order. “We also did training with many of these women to empower them on how to find their way out of abuse,” Lottering said. “Gender-based violence in Beaufort-Wes and surrounding towns of the Central-Karoo is rife. One of the biggest challenges is that more than 50 % of people in the area are without jobs. So many women are without work, they depend on men who drink heavily or use drugs and who abuse them. “These men consider women as their inferiors and as their objects. And when the women want to go to the police office, the perpetrators threaten them with more violence and tell them they will withhold money for food from them. And some of these women don’t have the skills to escape the cycle of violence and stay trapped,” says Lottering. “The courses I have done with 1000 Women Trust like the trauma training, anti-bullying and life skills training have been enormously helpful. Last year, we trained 37 women in Beaufort-West with the 1000 Women Trust material and 27 in Laingsburg with the same material,” Lottering added. One of the greatest challenges she faces, is to leverage support. 1000 Women Trust had been in the past and still is a life saver, but she needs other support as well. “I cannot do it on my own. I have called for a meeting for next week with the South African Police Services, the department of social development and churches in Beaufort-West in order to find help and solutions with the sky-high levels of gender-based violence.” Asked about the role of the church, Lottering said some of the churches in the Central-Karoo don’t help as some members of their senior management are guilty of the same problems that are so evident in the community and that is that they are perpetrators of gender-based violence themselves. Lottering said the most pressing need for her right now is office equipment, as well as food supplies as there is a high prevalence of women on the street who were violently assaulted and who have to fend for themselves and their children without food or drink. If people want to assist Lottering, they can email her on lotteringmarinda607@gmail.com or contact 1000 Women on WhatsApp 0614690479 Tina Thiart, trustee of 1000 Women Trust, welcomed the establishment of the emergency shelter in Beaufort West and congratulated Lottering for taking the brave step. “It was our objective with the Karoo-project (to establish the shelter). We urge our members and friends to donate to the GBV Advice Office,” said Thiart.  The mission of 1000 Women Trust is to raise awareness, empower survivors and work towards eradicating all forms of violence against women. The Trust firmly believes that by uniting their voices, they can create lasting change and build a safer world for women and girls everywhere. To contact the Trust, send us a mail on info@1000women.co.za .

The pamphlets and the anti-bullying-toolkit of 1000 Women Trust have played a significant role in assisting the social worker Eunice Maseema, who is a leading activist in fighting gangsterism and bullying in the Jafta Mahlangu secondary school in Mamelodi-West. Maseema is a social worker of the Moses Mabhida Foundation. She says she has benefited from the anti-bullying material from 1000 Women Trust, women-led organization that combats gender-based violence. “The challenge we face at the adopted schools in Mamelodi is that there is a lot of gangsterism around the schools in the area as well as substance abuse, which plays a role in perpetuating bullying in the Jafta Mahlangu-school,” says Maseeema. “We have had incidences where learners who had taken in some substances, physically assaulted teachers at the school,” she says. “Our role is not only to conduct talks at the school and target perpetrators with the message that bullying is not cool. But we also have group sessions regularly – either after school or on weekends. “Furthermore, we take hands with other stakeholders to challenge learners who are bullies. We are in close contact with all the South African Police Services in Mamelodi. The embassy of Qatar has also provided us with more computers to help bullies pursue a different career patch. “We have reached out to parents in the community with the central message that bullying is inhumane and has severe consequences,” Maseema said. “The material of 1000 Women Trust has contributed to the skills development of the social workers and we have also positive feedback from learners who read the pamphlets of 1000 Women Trust.” Maseema said one of the greatest challenges that the social workers at the schools face, is how to break the connection between bullying and gangsterism and eradicate the negative cycle of anti-social behaviour. “Some of the learners join the gangs around the school at age 11. When they join, they receive R100 and when they try to leave the gangs, they have to pay R2000 to the gangs. “A challenge is to help learners see the positive role models who do not engage in bullying. Because many of those role models leave the area to join greener pastures. “But some of the learners drop out because they want to join the ranks of gang members who have smart cars,” Maseema added. “We have had some success as some learners dropped out, but due to our interventions they came back to school again. We try and enforce a procedure whereby every learner is checked by teachers, and social workers to attend every period of school “if we have more resources, we want to spread the work that we are doing, to the whole of Mamelodi, not only schools in Mamelodi West. Currently we focus on two primary schools and the Jafta Mahlanga secondary school. We aim to enlarge our footprint. “Another challenge is we need more money to purchase several computes to teach learners more skills as to much free time can exacerbate the problem of bullying,” said Maseema. It is well-known that 57 % of the 2.2 million South African learners have been subjected to bullying throughout their lifetime, and that 90 % of bullies later on become perpetrators of gender-based violence. In 2023, a total of 2981 learners in South Africa did the hart-hitting trauma buddy training of 1000 Women Trust. The Trust’s mission is to raise awareness, empower survivors and work towards eradicate all forms of violence against women. The Trust firmly believes that by uniting their voices, they can create lasting change and build a safer world for women and girls everywhere. For more information on what 1000 Women Trust is doing, visit www.antibully.co.za, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or send Tina Thiart a WhatsApp on 0732079079 if you want your school or teachers or parents to do the anti-bullying course.

As we commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th, the 1000 Women Trust is proud to launch its "Know The Law" campaign. With a focus on inspiring, educating, equipping, and empowering women and women-led organisations, this initiative aims to simplify legal jargon and make crucial amendments accessible to all. In 2022, the government introduced three significant amendments addressing key issues affecting women's safety and rights. These amendments streamline protection order applications, ensure the seriousness of harassment claims by state police, and hold offenders accountable with appropriate punitive measures. Over the next few weeks, 1000 Women Trust will delve into each of these laws to keep individuals informed and engaged. Through social media, website resources, and interactive discussions, the campaign seeks to empower women with knowledge and foster gender equality. "At 1000 Women, we believe that knowledge is power," says Founding Trustee, Tina Thiart from 1000 Women Trust. "Our 'Know The Law' campaign embodies our commitment to empowering individuals through education and awareness. By understanding these amendments, women can better protect themselves and advocate for change."  As part of the campaign, individuals are encouraged to share information with friends and family who may benefit from the resources provided. Together, under the hashtag #1000Women1Voice, the community can advocate for change, invest in women, and foster gender equality. Follow our "Know The Law" campaign and join the conversation on our Facebook and Instagram social media pages – 1000 Women 1 Voice.

Equipping women with the awareness of what bullying and gender-based violence is, what their rights are, where they can report this abuse and how they can get out of the cycle of violence, but also empowering them with skills to design bags and pillows, is part of Fransien Nzika’s role in the City of Ekurhuleni.  Nzika, equipped with course material provided by 1000 Women Trust on gender-based violence, bullying and trauma training counselling, embarked on the work of touching the hearts of hundreds of women subjected to gender-based violence just after COVID-19. “We have taught the women what gender-based violence is, what their rights are, where they can phone for help or where to go to in order to receive assistance if the police officers are not sympathetic,” said Nzika. But Nzika has also seen it as her role to help women understand that they can be self-sufficient, that they have what it takes to succeed economically without having to rely heavily on men who are perpetrators of gender-based violence. “Many women lack the confidence and have that mindset that a man must take care of them. I empower them to be self-sufficient and don’t need a man. One of the things that is challenging is that some of these women who were subjected to repeated gender-based violence, withdraw the charges simply because they are economically dependent,” said Nzika. “The magnitude of gender-based violence in Ekurhuleni is quite massive, but many women do not talk about it,” she said. The group sessions that she has had, utilizing the 1000 Women Trust-material, has been popular. There are free food and drinks, provided by 1000 Women Trust. “So many of these women come an go, but some do return for more sessions. “It is not merely group sessions. We also empower them by teaching them to do design work of products like pillows and handbags, and it is quite uplifting as it create awareness that they do have the skills to become independent,” said Nzika. Nzika works meticulously on doing follow-up calls to women whom she has not seen for a while an prompted by Nzika, they come back. She has made some progress in the never-ending fight against gender-based violence perpetrators, but says the biggest challenge is still that women in Ekurhuleni suffers in silence and hide the scale of GBV in their communities or are stuck in abusive relationships and lack the will to get out of the cycle by being self-employed. Lucretia Samsam is a tireless worker and community activist who utilizes the 100 Women Trust anti-bullying toolkit and information about gender-based violence to change hearts and minds in Freedom Park, an informal settlement in Ottery. But Samsam has also wandered over to Gugulethu to share information about the danger of bullying and cyber bullying with women in the township. She has also engaged with learners and teachers from Ferndale Primary school where her daughter is a learner. “One of the objectives of my work is to make people in Freedom Park aware on the meaning of Human Rights day on the 21nd March and how we as community collectively can fight crime,” she said. Samsam is currently not employed, but said she is absolutely passionate about helping children and adults about the dangers of bullying and cyberbullying. “One of the greatest achievements of my work though using the 1000 Women Trust course material is that I have created enormous awareness amongst children of the dangers of bullying and how they can fight for themselves to fend off bullies, but also how they can engage with teachers to help protect them from perpetrators of bullying,” said Samsam. “One of the greatest enjoyments of my work is that when I walk across a field in Freedom Park, they shout my name, they know what I am doing and that I am making a difference,” she adds. 1000 Women Trust is a women-led organization whose mission it is to raise awareness, empower survivors and work towards eradicating all forms of violence against women. The Trust firmly believes that by uniting their voices, they can create lasting change and build a safer world for women and girls everywhere.

Equipping women with the awareness of what bullying and gender-based violence is, what their rights are, where they can report this abuse and how they can get out of the cycle of violence, but also empowering them with skills to design bags and pillows, is part of Fransien Nzika’s role in the City of Ekurhuleni.  Nzika, equipped with course material provided by 1000 Women Trust on gender-based violence, bullying and trauma training counselling, embarked on the work of touching the hearts of hundreds of women subjected to gender-based violence just after COVID-19. “We have taught the women what gender-based violence is, what their rights are, where they can phone for help or where to go to in order to receive assistance if the police officers are not sympathetic,” said Nzika. But Nzika has also seen it as her role to help women understand that they can be self-sufficient, that they have what it takes to succeed economically without having to rely heavily on men who are perpetrators of gender-based violence. “Many women lack the confidence and have that mindset that a man must take care of them. I empower them to be self-sufficient and don’t need a man. One of the things that is challenging is that some of these women who were subjected to repeated gender-based violence, withdraw the charges simply because they are economically dependent,” said Nzika. “The magnitude of gender-based violence in Ekurhuleni is quite massive, but many women do not talk about it,” she said. The group sessions that she has had, utilizing the 1000 Women Trust-material, has been popular. There are free food and drinks, provided by 1000 Women Trust. “So many of these women come an go, but some do return for more sessions. “It is not merely group sessions. We also empower them by teaching them to do design work of products like pillows and handbags, and it is quite uplifting as it create awareness that they do have the skills to become independent,” said Nzika. Nzika works meticulously on doing follow-up calls to women whom she has not seen for a while an prompted by Nzika, they come back. She has made some progress in the never-ending fight against gender-based violence perpetrators, but says the biggest challenge is still that women in Ekurhuleni suffers in silence and hide the scale of GBV in their communities or are stuck in abusive relationships and lack the will to get out of the cycle by being self-employed. Lucretia Samsam is a tireless worker and community activist who utilizes the 100 Women Trust anti-bullying toolkit and information about gender-based violence to change hearts and minds in Freedom Park, an informal settlement in Ottery. But Samsam has also wandered over to Gugulethu to share information about the danger of bullying and cyber bullying with women in the township. She has also engaged with learners and teachers from Ferndale Primary school where her daughter is a learner. “One of the objectives of my work is to make people in Freedom Park aware on the meaning of Human Rights day on the 21nd March and how we as community collectively can fight crime,” she said. Samsam is currently not employed, but said she is absolutely passionate about helping children and adults about the dangers of bullying and cyberbullying. “One of the greatest achievements of my work though using the 1000 Women Trust course material is that I have created enormous awareness amongst children of the dangers of bullying and how they can fight for themselves to fend off bullies, but also how they can engage with teachers to help protect them from perpetrators of bullying,” said Samsam. “One of the greatest enjoyments of my work is that when I walk across a field in Freedom Park, they shout my name, they know what I am doing and that I am making a difference,” she adds. 1000 Women Trust is a women-led organization whose mission it is to raise awareness, empower survivors and work towards eradicating all forms of violence against women. The Trust firmly believes that by uniting their voices, they can create lasting change and build a safer world for women and girls everywhere.

The prominent women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, a leading NGO in the fight against gender-based violence, has launched a major national campaign urging parents to make a pledge to #MakeTime to speak to their sons to teach them about consent, boundaries and respect for women – and in this simple act, join the cause of fighting against the ongoing, horrific levels of gender-based violence. The campaign centres on a children’s doll – Krissy Doll – that appears to have been brutally assaulted, exhibiting all the hallmarks of domestic violence. In a digital film, two young girls are playing with the doll, putting make-up on the doll’s face to cover up cuts and bruises. “Our Krissy Doll is a strong denotation of how women cover up or hide the abuse or violence that is inflicted upon them. By showing a potential future in which little girls accept battered and bruised dolls as if this were the norm, we are hoping to shock South Africans into having critical conversations with their sons”, says Tina Thiart, co-founder and trustee of 1000 Women Trust. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has said, "Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence. With our silence, by looking the other way because we believe it is a personal or family matter, we become complicit in this most insidious of crimes.” To assist adults in navigating these difficult conversations, 1000 Women have made free-for-all digital resources available at talkingtoboys The site hosts age-appropriate talking points and tips on how to speak to boys from the age of one to young men in their teens, an auto-calendar function to set a reminder to make time, and the option to share a pledge to #MakeTime on Facebook and Twitter to drive further awareness of the need to “teach our sons the right way”. “All we’re asking is for South Africans to #MakeTime to speak to their sons. Words are powerful and children’s behaviour and attitudes are learnt, shaped and moulded by those who care for them. If every South African took just half an hour a month to talk to their sons, or boys in their care, about the right way to think and act, consent, boundaries and respect for women, we would soon see less violence, abuse, rape and murder,” says Thiart. But it is not only our sons. Women also need to rethink how they view themselves. A recent survey indicated that when asked if it is acceptable for a man to hit a woman, 3.3% of men and 2.3% of women in South Africa said that it is. Despite the percentage being small, it will never be possible to completely eliminate violence against women while there are still women who believe that it is acceptable to be hit by a man, at the same time not understanding their constitutional rights or what is regarded as socially unacceptable behaviour. “So, while making time to talk to our sons, we also need to encourage our daughters and help them understand that abuse is not okay. Abuse against them, or against anyone they care about should not be covered up. We can’t remain silent, we need to speak up if we want change,” says Thiart. “Through this campaign we hope that each and every South African will take up the responsibility to have these types of conversations with our children from an early age, so that it becomes a social norm and prevents these crimes from following our daughters into the future”. To find out more, pledge your support to make time to talk to your children, visit talkingtoboys and join the conversation at #MakeTime on social media. FOR MEDIA QUERIES Tina Thiart 1000 Women trustee 0732079079 Lara Fouche Assistant to the Trustee 0842361860

NGOs in South Africa who serve the vulnerable and marginalized or leading the fight against gender-based violence, are grossly neglected by the department of social development with regards to allocation of funding. And this is exacerbated by the fact that this department of social development is acting more like a skills development agency than alleviating the plight of the poor and the downtrodden women in society, said Tina Thiart, trustee of the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust. 1000 Women Trust is one of South Africa’s leading NGOs in the fight against gender-based violence since 2003. Thiart demanded that the alleged misappropriation of funds by the department of social development should be investigated as a matter of urgency. She said according to the news agency GroundUp, the Gauteng department of social development has granted nearly R114 million to two organizations over two years, one a beauty academy called Beauty Hub and the other a former shelf company, Daracorp. The department of social development reduced the amount allocated to NPOs by R233 million in 2023. Sectors hardest hit were older people (where the budget for NPOs was cut by R54 million compared to the previous year, HIV services, cut by R98 million and community care, cut by R26 million. Beauty Hub academy said its own commitment is to educate and train young people, giving them the necessary skills to be professional hairdressers and beauty therapist in an industry that is so often informal and poorly regulated. The department said it had funded Beauty Hub to train 565 people receiving a social security in 2022/23, with a further 565 targeted for training in 20232024. That meant over the two years the Beauty Hub will have received funding to train 1130 students at an average of over R56000 per person, according to GroundUp. Thiart, though, said the department of social development is acting as a skills empowerment hub, something that is the task and mission of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). That is also the role of a Seta like the culture, arts, tourism, hospitality and sport sector education and training authority. “It is clear that the department of social development is misunderstanding its role, where an organization like SEDA could easily have fulfilled that mission with regards to the allocation of fund to fulfil skills development functions,” Thiart added. “Many NPOs who are at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence, has received little or no funding since 2023. “A total of 2981 parents and teachers were part of the Trust’s anti-bullying course in 2023, while the organization equipped 2724 trauma buddies – councillors that support survivors of gender-based violence,” said Thiart. “We also trained more than 10000 women as community leaders to support survivors of GBV in communities and did not received a single cent in support from the department of social development. And we are not the only NPOs affected,” she said. According to adv. Bernadine Bachar, director of the Saartjie Baartman-centre, many community-based organizations in South Africa who are leading the fight against gender-based violence, or are in the shelter-sector, may face imminent closure. That is due to the fact that the department of social development advised the sector at the end of 2023 that due to budget cuts it may not be able to fund these organizations in the future, a move that may leave many survivors of gender-based violence on the street. Thiart said of the almost R2.3 billion funds paid to NPOs, most got less than R1 million and some received little or nothing. Yet Daracorp and Beauty Hub’s funding was almost unaffected by the budget cuts of 2023.  “The money paid to them could have provided by a Seta or by SEDA, and not by a department whose mission states that it should enable the poor, the marginalized and excluded people,” Thiart said.

Today, let's talk about something super important – keeping ourselves safe and happy in the digital world. We all know the internet is an amazing place, but sometimes, there are a few not-so-nice folks out there. Here's what to look out for and what you can do: 1. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your gut feelings! 2. Keep Personal Info Personal: Guard your private details like a treasure chest. Don't share them with just anyone. 3. Be Cyber-Smart: Update your passwords regularly and make them strong like superhero shields. 4. Friend Wisely: Only add people you know in real life. Quality over quantity, right? 5. Think Before You Post: Once it's out there, it's hard to take back. Be mindful of what you share. 6. Stand Up, Speak Out: If you see someone being cyberbullied, don't be a bystander. Speak up and support! 7. Report and Block: Most platforms have tools to report and block bullies. Use them like a boss! 8. Digital Detox: Sometimes, it's okay to take a break. Unplug, breathe, and enjoy the real world. 9. Surround Yourself with Positivity: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you. Your online space should be your happy place! 10. Talk About It: If you're facing cyberbullying, don't keep it to yourself. Share with someone you trust, like a friend, family member, or teacher. Remember, you are strong, you are awesome, and you deserve all the good vibes in the world! Stay tuned for more tips on how to own your online space and kick those cyberbullies to the digital curb! 😎💻

Today, let's talk about something super important – keeping ourselves safe and happy in the digital world. We all know the internet is an amazing place, but sometimes, there are a few not-so-nice folks out there. Here's what to look out for and what you can do: 1. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your gut feelings! 2. Keep Personal Info Personal: Guard your private details like a treasure chest. Don't share them with just anyone. 3. Be Cyber-Smart: Update your passwords regularly and make them strong like superhero shields. 4. Friend Wisely: Only add people you know in real life. Quality over quantity, right? 5. Think Before You Post: Once it's out there, it's hard to take back. Be mindful of what you share. 6. Stand Up, Speak Out: If you see someone being cyberbullied, don't be a bystander. Speak up and support! 7. Report and Block: Most platforms have tools to report and block bullies. Use them like a boss! 8. Digital Detox: Sometimes, it's okay to take a break. Unplug, breathe, and enjoy the real world. 9. Surround Yourself with Positivity: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you. Your online space should be your happy place! 10. Talk About It: If you're facing cyberbullying, don't keep it to yourself. Share with someone you trust, like a friend, family member, or teacher. Remember, you are strong, you are awesome, and you deserve all the good vibes in the world! Stay tuned for more tips on how to own your online space and kick those cyberbullies to the digital curb! 😎💻

Today, we're on a journey to unveil the world of cyberbullying, breaking down the different types that unfortunately exist in our digital space. Understanding these varieties is our first step in creating a safer online community. So, let's dive into the cyber seas: 1. Flaming or Roasting: It is: A direct, personal attack using profane language and insulting comments in a social setting, aiming to intimidate the victim. 2. Cellphone Bullying: It is: Using mobile phones for harassment, intimidation, or threats, impacting individuals' mental well-being. 3. Gender-based Violence Bullying (LGBT): It is: Targets individuals from the LGBT community, involving harassment, threats, or discriminatory behavior based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. 4. WhatsApp Bullying: It is: Occurs on the messaging app and includes various forms of harassment, threats, or spreading rumors that can lead to emotional distress. 5. Revenge Porn: It is: Involves distributing intimate photos without consent, causing emotional distress and potential harm to victims' reputations and well-being. 6. Gaming and Cyberbullying: It is: Involves using online gaming platforms for harassment, threats, or exclusion, negatively impacting players' experiences and mental well-being. 7. Harassment: It is: Involves persistently sending cruel or threatening messages to a person's email or mobile phone, causing alarm, annoyance, or substantial emotional stress. 8. Denigration: It is: Spreading malicious gossip or rumors digitally to harm a person's reputation, including posting or sending altered photos to portray them negatively. 9. Impersonation or Identity Theft: It is: Occurs when someone breaks into another's email or social account, posing as them to send damaging messages or images, aiming to harm their reputation. 10. Outing: It is: Involves sharing someone's secrets or embarrassing information online without their consent, often using deception to reveal personal details. 11. Cyber Stalking: It is: Similar to traditional stalking, entails threats and intimidation through repeated online harassment and threats. 12. Happy Slapping: It is: Involves physically assaulting someone while capturing the violence on a mobile phone camera. 13. Social Exclusion: It is: Involves intentionally leaving someone out of group activities, conversations, or message threads, causing feelings of isolation and exclusion. 14. Trickery: It is: Involves befriending a target, gaining their trust, and then deceiving them by maliciously sharing their secrets and private information. 15. Fraping: It is: A blend of "Facebook" and "rape," occurs when a bully gains control of someone's social media account to post humiliating or embarrassing content. 16. Masquerading: It is: Involves creating a fake online profile or identity to impersonate someone without their consent, often to send or post harmful content. 17. Dissing: It is: Spreading cruel information about a target through public posts or private messages to damage their reputation or relationships. 18. Trolling: It is: Intentionally inciting negative reactions by posting inflammatory or attacking comments online, often without a personal. It's like navigating through a digital jungle, right? But don't worry, awareness is our best armor! Stay tuned for our next blog where we'll chat about what to look out for and how to tackle these cyberbullies head-on!

The constant barrage of verbal and physical abuse by a pastoral male family member, the silence of the pastoral female family member and physical battering at the hands of an older male student at Rethabile High School in Mamelodi took its toll on Lorraine Moko. But the intervention by her maternal grandparents and the therapeutic work done by a counsellor when she was a second year student in social work at Huguenot College in Wellington, had a long-term healing impact on her life. Moko, who boasts 17-years experience as social worker, is now employed in the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust as social worker/administrator and plays a pivotal role in facilitating the #HearMeToo focus groups during 16 Days of Activism. “I grew up in a pastoral family. The pastoral male family member who was supposed to be my protector and guide was verbally abusive and I often heard these words ‘you will never amount to anything, you are stupid, lazy bones, good for nothing” recalled Moko. “I also had to wear long clothes to cover the bruises from physical beatings,” she said. “To top it all, when I was in grade 8 in high school there was an older male student who beat me up in the name of seeking love from me, coupled with what was happening at home made me fear for my life,” she said. “Somehow, I knew that this abuse was wrong, and I devised means to escape. At the end of my first year in high school I went to stay at my maternal grandparents’ house in the rural areas to avoid abuse. My grandmother had a first-hand account of the abuse at the hands of the pastoral male family member and the silence of the pastoral female family member. When I went to my grandparents for December holidays, I packed as much as I can with a plan not to return back to the abusive home. I feared that both pastoral parents would not allow me to stay with my grandparents, when I bravely told the pastoral female family member she agreed that I can stay. My grandparents agreed to take me in for the rest of my high school career. “If it was not for my grandparents, I don’t think I would have finished matric. “During my university years, the department of social work said that before we went out to do field work, we needed therapeutic sessions. I had therapeutic sessions with a counsellor for nine months. That had a major healing impact on my life. It was a game changer and because of that healing I could have a healing influence in the life of other people for the past 17 years,” said Moko. When asked what advice she would have for women subjected to gender-based violence, she said women should reach out to other women. And women hearing of a person subjected to gender-based violence, should not be quick to judge, but should listen empathetically. “Also, women should report the case, and not withdraw.” Moko will play a major role as administrator and mentor when 1000 Women Trust coordinate the #HearMeToo-sessions during the 16 Days of activism from 25 th November to 10 th December as facilitators engage with 15 to 20 women in each of the groups who have been subjected to gender-based violence. The current list of 67 #HearMeToo-groups across nine provinces will be reduced to 25 before the group sessions start on 25 th November. 1000 Women Trust will be the overall custodian and facilitator of the #HearMeToo-groups. Moko’s job description is individual work, group work, community work, research and administrative work. She said when assessing each of the #HearMeToo-groups, the facilitators will have to be people who have done a course in trauma training that was hosted by 1000 Women Trust, and must be in possession of a certificate to prove that they have done the course. The members of each group would be survivors of gender-based violence that will share their experiences with the facilitator, who will help them cope with and alleviate the effects of gender-based violence. In each group there will also be a social worker who will do one-on-one counselling sessions with the women and create a safe space for affected women who were abused by both men and women considering that there is LGBTQ relationships. The social workers will also conduct follow-up sessions with the women that are part of the #HearMeToo-groups. The facilitators will run the #HearMeToo-sessions for each of the 16 days. They will also guide women on practical ways to deal with gender-based violence, like the utilization of a neutral person when they report gender-based violence at community service centres. Upon the conclusion of the #HearMeToo-sessions, each facilitator will write a report. Moko will consolidate the reports and find commonalities and write a comprehensive report about the common ground between all the reports on general trends in communities with regards to gender-based violence. 1000 Women Trust will serve these #HearMeToo-groups by sharing pamphlets on gender-based violence with them, as well as an anti-bullying toolkit so that they can guide schools in their communities with regards to steps to safeguard those schools against bullying. “There are so many learners who commit suicide, become depressed and drop out from schools after being subjected to sustained verbal bullying or even cyber bullying, that is why the anti-bullying-toolkit is essential for the well-being of the learners,” Moko said. 1000 Women Trust will be conducting a cyber bullying course on-line for women during the 16 Days of Activism in November and December. The importance of these on-line sessions to safeguard South African teenage girls and women from the effects of bullying is crucial. The estimated suicide rate in South Africa is 23.5 per 100 000, which translates to about 14 000 deaths from suicide per annum. 1 It is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15–29 in the country. 4 The years of productive life lost and the economic costs of suicide are a burden to both families and the nation, and many of these suicides are caused by bullying and cyber bullying, Moko warned. 1000 Women Trust do not only facilitate the running of #HearMeToo-groups in November and December, but also run other groups in April and July, Moko said. 1000 Women Trust’s objective is to mobilize resources to give grants to women’s organizations that support, raise awareness and provide opportunities for women and children who have been affected by violence. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the Trust on www.1000women.co.za or send an email to info@1000women.co.za

The release of the crime statistics for the three months between July and September 2023, the rape and murder of the Delta Park High School teacher Kirsten Kluyts, and the multiple stabbing of a Cape Peninsula University student by her husband, a 30-year old student at the University of the Western Cape, underline the reality that South Africa is losing the fight against gender-based violence. In the three month period between July and September 2023, 13090 people suffered sexual assault while 42 297 others were seriously assaulted. A total of 10 516 reported incidents of rape revealed that the second pandemic is still raging on. The 26-year woman was stabbed on Saturday 11 November at South Point, a private student residence in Belhar. The assailant was a 30-year old believed to the victim’s husband and has been arrested. The University of the Western Cape suspended the man. A case of attempted murder against him has been postponed to the 20 th of November in the Bellville Magistrate Court. The stabbing incident which went viral on social media, trigged widespread anger. It has emerged that the suspect has another pending case of rape, which is due on the 4 th December. According to Gasant Abarder, an UWC spokesperson, the student was barred from all UWC association residences. But what has happened to Kirsten Kluyts and to the 26-year old student of the Cape Peninsula University and the outcry it has caused, is not new. In 2019, Uyinene Mrewetyana, a student at the University of Cape Town was raped and murdered in Claremont by Luyanda Botha. It caused an international outcry, and anger. But perhaps it is time for South Africans to redirect their anger and dismay at the South African government. In her book Rape Unresolved: Policing sexual offences in South Africa, Dee Smythe, professor in the department of public law at UCT, pointed to the fact that about 150 women report being raped to the police in South Africa daily. Fewer than 30 cases will be prosecuted and not more than ten will result in a conviction. This translates into an overall conviction rate of 4 to 8 percent of reported cases. According to the South African Police, the total 2019 reported rape rate was 90.9 per 100 000 people. However, SAPS estimated that only 1 in 36 cases are actually reported to police, by this measure there could have been more than two million additional rapes that went unreported. Why are these cases not reported and why are there such a small conviction rate? One of the reasons is that women who report gender-based violence to the police, are often dismissed, harassed, treated with disdain. In short, they face secondary victimization. This has been a common theme from previous #HearMeToo-sessions across South Africa. The bottom line is that South Africa loses the battle against gender-based violence on two fronts – in the hearts and minds of men who think that women are their possession and their inferiors, and secondly at the police station where women are on the receiving end of even more abuse. In its annual report for 2022/2023, the Gender Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund said it has become more apparent that the law-enforcement and judiciary systems are failing the victims of gender-based violence. The rate of convictions for these heinous crimes remain too low. A well-functioning police and justice system will play an important role in ensuring the victims of gender-based violence are able to access justice. “We will be stepping up our efforts to engage government to ensure that decisive steps are taken to remedy this,” stated the report. Tina Thiart, co-founder and trustee of 1000 Women Trust, said there will be no respite for vulnerable women if more resources by the GBVF Response Fund does not find its way to community-based organizations. Also, when engagements with government and the police and judicial systems take place, there must be realistic and measurable goals like demanding that the conviction rate improve by at least 30 % over the next three years and steps to make it happen. Otherwise discussions between government and women-led organizations will just be another talk show, similar to the second presidential summit in November 2022, and nothing of practical value to women subjected to gender-based violence. will be forthcoming. “1000 Women Trust is very disturbed to see very little change in the murder-rate of women, femicide. We appeal to the SA Police Force to make efforts to protect women, to keep alleged rapists in the jail and to respond to the calls for help from women. A women with a protection order should receive help. Keep women safe,” said Thiart. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za , or contact the Trust on info@1000women.co.za .

PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 24 th NOVEMBER 2023

MEDIA-RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 3rd NOVEMBER 2023

 PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN 1 VOICE: 24 th AUGUST 2023

National plan against GBV failed SA women due to poor implementation, warns 1000 Women Trust