IN PICS: Men march in Durban for urgent action on gender-based violence - IOL

Men march through Durban calling for practical government action to end GBVF.

Men led a March and March demonstration in Durban yesterday, calling for urgent government action on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Alongside GBVF, the demonstration highlighted broader demands, including stricter border controls, reserving the township informal economy for South Africans, reforming the Road Accident Fund Act, and increasing security in high-risk areas.

Among attendees were political parties including ActionSA, MK Party and the IFP.

Addressing GBVF on Tuesday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced four immediate measures: a national case-recovery audit and stalled-case recovery plans led by police and justice ministers; a funded 60-day plan to clear forensic backlogs and ring-fence priority samples; municipal safety audits within 60 days to fix environmental hazards alongside stricter liquor law enforcement; and a coordinated legislative package submitted within 60 days to reduce alcohol-related violence.

This followed a recent spike in GBVF cases, primarily in Gauteng, after 11 women’s bodies were discovered in Ekurhuleni since July.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma marches along the streets of Durban, demanding stronger action against gender-based violence and femicide.

SA First Forum acting chief executive officer Xolani Zuma stated the march is different, but the problems are the same. 

“The serious problem we have now is that we were hoping that the government is going to provide a solution for these killings, and an immediate solution—something that would happen now,” Zuma said. 

“We took a decision that men must lead this march. They must lead this march because it’s not only men who are causing problems when it comes to the killing of women, but it’s a societal issue… This march is about saying to the government: we’re tired now. It can’t be that every year women are killed. Now we’re going to have 16 Days of Activism. It’s an event. This thing must not be an event. There must be practical programmes to deal with the killing of women and children in our country.” 

Zuma said they are ending negotiations and launching a legal fight to force the government to amend laws. Specifically, they demand strict limits on refugee numbers and the removal of all illegal immigrants within two years.

Touching on Ramaphosa’s address on Tuesday evening, Zuma said he did not hear any substantive practical solutions to the problems. 

“We are saying we want practical solutions, and I’m not convinced that the president—the four plans that he has put in place are going to solve the problem,” Zuma said. 

March and March protesters hold placards during a Durban demonstration focused on violence against women.

ActionSA KZN leader and mayoral candidate Zwakele Mncwango said their support for the march aligned with their call to say, ‘Enough is Enough’. The daily killing of women must stop and physical and emotional abuse caused by men must be addressed.

“It doesn’t make sense that only women are complaining about GBV. I think as men, we come out clearly and state our position. It means that it’s a call to one of us or some of us, because some of us are perpetrators; some of these perpetrators are our friends or family members. We sit with them, so when they see us united like this today (yesterday), it’s a very strong message,” Mncwango said. 

He mentioned that men are raised to respect women and children, not treat them as punching bags. No justification or reason can ever excuse killing women.

“As men, we grow up knowing, even from our elders, that when you want a fight, you take a fight to other men, not a woman. So, we don’t know where this cancer comes from, where our women are getting killed,” Mncwango said. 

He added that if a relationship is unhappy or abusive, leave rather than resort to violence, as conflict is normal and never justifies killing.