South Africa

Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba launching ‘We Will Speak Out: South Africa’ in November 2013.

South Africa

Population: 51,770,560 (2011 census)
Location: Southern Africa

SV Statistics

• 66,065 people reported sexually assaults to the National Police in 2013. Between 80 and 95 percent of rapes are not reported due to fear and stigma.
• Conservative estimates suggest that more than 580,000 rapes could have been committed in 2012
• In 2008, a survey found that 28% of men in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces had raped a woman or girl.
• One third of the men who had committed rape did not feel guilty

Sources: United Nations, Medical Research Council in South Africa, LEAD SA/South African Police Service, Tearfund research findings

I will speak out because…

Join survivors of sexual violence, church leaders, organisations and members of the general public in speaking out against sexual violence by SIGNING OUR PLEDGE HERE

Breaking the Silence Report

Breaking the silence demonstrates the urgent need for the local and national church in South Africa to unite, work with key stakeholders and take action to end sexual violence (SV). The report highlights three key points:

1. Sexual violence is widespread across South Africa and has a deeply traumatising and damaging effect on survivors.

2. The church has often failed survivors of sexual violence. Many churches deepen the impact of sexual violence through their silence, stigma and discrimination. Some churches have not done enough to care for the marginalised or to speak out on their behalf.

3. The church is central to community life and has untapped potential to prevent and respond to sexual violence. It can provide care and support, stand alongside survivors seeking justice, and identify and challenge harmful attitudes and beliefs within society that perpetuate sexual violence.

Photos from the 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls campaign 2014

For more photos, please click here.

Read report from the 16 days of activism campaign from WWSO South Africa

WWSOSA updated final report

Men’s March against violence against women and children

On 31^st August the Oasis Church in Umlazi Township one of the biggest township in KwaZulu-Natal took a firm stand against the abuse of women and children. This was a special gesture marking the close of Woman’s month. The men of the Oasis Church in Umlazi took upon themselves to lead a campaign through a march demonstration from the church to the local taxi-rank and in the community holding placards with messages against advocating against the abuse of women and children.

For more details about the march, view here.

We Will Speak Out: South Africa Launch

On the 25th November 2013, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and UNAIDS South Africa launched ‘We Will Speak Out: South Africa’ at Pretoria Cathedral.

Read the coalition statement here.

Speakers included the Anglican Church, HOPE Africa, National Prosecuting Authority, Tearfund, SAFFI, Sonke Gender Justice, UNAIDS and UNWomen (pictured above) spoke during the event.

The Most Revd Thabo Makgoba lead the attendees in prayers for those affected by sexual violence and the local church to respond and prevent sexual violence.

We Will Speak Out: South Africa Activities

Since the launch several new organisations have joined the coalition, therefore on 10th September 2014, coalition members will meet to develop activity plans for the future.

On 26th November 2013, faith leaders met to develop an action plan for the faith response based on findings and recommendations mentioned in the ‘Breaking the silence’ report. The plan will seek to galvanise broader action at a national level to end sexual violence.

• Bible-Based Abuse

  “Everything was based on religion; he would refuse to do certain things if he felt something was not righteous in the eyes of God.” (A friend of murder accused Sandile […]

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• It is time to break our silence

  On the 22nd November, a group of remarkable women came together to share with local government officials, UN agencies, NGOs and church leaders. Their desire to be a voice for the […]

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• Why we were silent…

  During a meeting with church leaders in KwaZulu Natal, a group of survivors shared their stories thru a poem… Why Were We Silent… “When we speak we are afraid our words […]

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Resources

• 16 Days of Activism Resources

  • SV Church resource by WWSOSA, funded by UNFPA

  • WWSO Resource for prayer, reflection and action: 2014

  • South Africa: 16 Days Prayer Guide

• Case Studies

  • Ending Complicity and Protecting our dreams

  • Why we were silent…

• Church Based Resources

  • Church Resource Manual on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

  • SV Church resource by WWSOSA, funded by UNFPA

• Press Releases

  • SA Coalition launch

• Research

  • A Movement for Change: KwaZulu Natal Baseline Community Survey Results.

  • Western Cape survivor mapping

  • Breaking the Silence

  • SV in South Africa: The role of the church

  • Breaking the silence – Survivor’s voices

  • Preventing rape and Violence in South Africa: MRC 2009

• Thursdays in Black Online Resources

  • Comprehensive Online Database of Tools and Resources from WWSOSA South Africa

• Videos

  • Faith leaders ‘Take A Stand’

  • ‘I will speak out…’

  • South Africa named ‘rape capital of world’

• Workshops

  • South Africa: National WWSO Launch

Current members of the coalition include individuals, churches, denominations and organisations