By Nontshi Shange

In April 2020 a 24-year-old man from Mahikeng was arrested for the murder of his 22-year-old girlfriend. The woman had previously opened a case of assault against her partner following a domestic dispute. The nationwide COVID-19 lockdown saw an increase in domestic violence cases in South Africa with police Minister, Bheki Cele having announced that 87 000 domestic violence cases were reported in the first week. Gender violence is a never-ending reality in South Africa, but these instances bring communities, such as Mahikeng, to a halt and allow for reflection. 

On 24 October 2020, members of the Mahikeng community joined together to educate each other and look for solutions to the Gender-based violence issue. They met at the Garden View Lodge in Mafikeng. The conversation was organized by Activator and founder of the community development organization, Kiitso Matlaala Educational Hub, Luckyboy Abram Kanyane. The discussion was facilitated by Dineo Kgafe, from KME Hubs – a non-profit company – that has a youth hub in Mafikeng and is mainstreaming feminism and discourse on Gender-based violence among young women.

According to the facilitator, Dineo Kgafe, in Mahikeng there is a common misconception that Gender-based violence is limited to heterosexual women being the victims. However, members of the LGBTQIA++ community often suffer in silence as Kgafe states they are often the victim of corrective rape within the community. In educating the community on queer issues, there is hope that it will bring awareness to the on-going issue and create more safe spaces where the LGBTQIA++ community can report the crimes against them.

A seasoned activist from Mahikeng, Kabelo, was happy to see that the youth of the community was engaging in this kind of conversation. He believed that it would allow them to begin developing a larger agenda to move the community forward as an inclusive and safe space.

They also discussed the alcohol abuse issue which often leads to an increase in the number of abuse cases. This is prevalent in not only Mahikeng – but the entire country. Alcohol abuse in South Africa is one of the highest in Africa. Studies have found that there is a significant increase in intimate-partner violence when there is alcohol consumption. In a community like Mahikeng, targeting the root issues, such as alcohol consumption, seems to be the most viable option to end GBV. 

There is hope that conversations such as these will bring a lasting change in the community and create more change drivers to do the necessary work.