‘Wear Black’ campaign highlights South Africa’s GBVF crisis

'Wear Black’ campaign highlights South Africa’s GBVF crisis. News South Africa Kwazulu Natal'Wear Black’ campaign highlights South Africa’s GBVF crisisZainul Dawood|Published 19 minutes agoAsk AI 5minA Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign was held in Durban, focusing on community visibility and partnerships between private security companies and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to distribute safety resources and promote awareness.

What happened

Image: Leon LestradeSouth African men and women wearing black clothing took to the streets on Friday, waving placards, blowing whistles, and some remaining silent to highlight Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) issues and to show solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in Gauteng. Those who participated in yesterday's campaign responded to the social media message "South Africa Wear Black" in solidarity with the women whose lives were lost, their families, and everyone affected by violence against women.

GBVF council starts work against grim backdropSouth Africa’s newly established National Council on GBVF held its inaugural meeting on August 31. Approximately 65% of all recorded gender-based violence survivors in some provinces are children,” she said. [email protected]IOLA Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign was held in Durban, focusing on community visibility and partnerships between private security companies and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to distribute safety resources and promote awareness. From a 200-litre drum in a dusty township workshop to a household name that defined Black hair in South Africa: this is the wild, defiant origin story of Black Like Me.

A local NGO, South African Fight Back, said it stood in solidarity with the women and girls whose lives have been taken by GBV-related crime. Communities wear blackIn Durban, activists gathered near the N2 freeway in Parlock to make their voices heard.

The wider picture

The 5km run started at 5am from Florida Road, with runners dressed in black in solidarity with Moselakgomo and victims of GBVF. The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, said the council was beginning its work against a grim backdrop, citing the Human Sciences Research Council’s first South African National Gender-Based Violence Prevalence Study, released in November 2024. Image: Leon LestradeAsk AIRelated Topics:gender based violencewomen and childrenwoman traffickingkempton park killingsgauteng crimekwazulu natalekurhuleni women deathsSaturday, September 19, 2026NewsCrime and CourtsSouth AfricaAfricaWorldBRICSEducationEnergyEnvironmentFeel GoodGovernment at WorkOpinionPoliticsOpinionOpinionNewsPoliticsEntertainmentLifestyleTechSportBusinessJobsEconomyPropertyWindow on ChinaHybrid WorkingEntertainmentCelebrity NewsStreamingMoviesMusicBooksWhats OnJoburgDurbanCape TownPretoriaOpinionLifestyleHealthBeautyFashionFoodRelationshipsParentingCompetitionsOpinionTravelLocalInternationalTechSoftware and InternetEsportsOpinionSportSoccerPSLRugbyCricketMMABettingOpinionHorse RacingMotoringReviewsLaunchesIndustry NewsMotorsport

As LIV Golf files for bankruptcy and faces severe funding cuts, local fans are left questioning whether the high-profile South African event will return in 2027. Communities in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere wore black, marched and held silent protests after nine women were found dead in Ekurhuleni. Police have not confirmed whether the killings are connected. Police figures show that 50,511 GBVF cases were reported to SAPS during the 2025/26 financial year, with 30,736 resulting in arrests and/or referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Police statisticsThe SAPS figures classify GBVF cases across offences including murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual assault, abduction, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, attempted rape and contact sexual offences. Chikunga said the council's responsibilities include monitoring implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, advising government on policy and legislative reforms, promoting accountability, commissioning research, monitoring progress against national targets and mobilising resources.

What has been reported

The country is gripped by the news that nine women have been found dead in Ekurhuleni since July, and police are investigating whether the killings are linked. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said police would lock down Kempton Park and surrounding areas, adding that it was too early to confirm a pattern to the killings. And a reminder that we cannot become numb to another headline, another victim, another family forced to grieve,” the NGO said.

Racheal Pillay, from Jugs Meals on Wheels and a community activist, said GBV is the biggest challenge facing communities. She said both men and women are victims of GBV. Pillay called for every community to stand together and protect one another. “Nobody has the right to take another person's life. We need to stand up and say 'no' to all the killings.

What happens next

We need to teach our children how to live better lives in harmony among every race, religion, and gender. My parents taught us to be kind, support everyone, and never judge,” Pillay said. Calls for stronger justice systemLawrence Palmer, chairperson of Newlands East Residents and Ratepayers Civic Rights Organisation, blamed the weak judicial system for the deaths of women and children. He said criminals know the system is not working. He said the courts are full on a daily basis and gender-based violence cases took years to go to trial.

The justice system has three parts that do not work together: the SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority , and the courts. The police are under-resourced, not well trained, and have a backlog of cases pending investigation.

The report has been compiled by Press Orb using information reported across iol.co.za. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.