High praise for quality of 1000 Women Trust’s hard-hitting anti-bullying course

Karen Painter • 23 June 2022

The bullying course designed and rolled out by 1000 Women Trust is a trailblazer for South African teachers, parents, learners and communities, which, if implemented in more public schools and in communities in Mzansi, can largely reduce the scourge of bullying in the country.

A common theme that emerged from teachers, parents and members of NGOs that attended 1000 Women Trust’s anti-bullying course in June, is that the anti-bullying course of 1000 Women Trust should be used by every school and that NGOs should share it with their members. The attendees of the anti-bullying course in June were unanimous in their praise for the quality of 1000 Women Trust’s course material.

Tina Thiart, founder and trustee of 1000 Women Trust, announced that another anti-bullying course on Whatsapp will run from 5 th  July 2022. Teachers, parents, community members who want to attend the course on Whatsapp, can attend on 0732079079.

The anti-bullying course run by 1000 Women Trust enhanced the awareness of the seriousness of this abuse, and the fact that it kills innocent people, said Fahgmeeda Ameerodien Singh. Community role players are in need of this information and therefore it should be rolled out on a continuous basis.

“The material especially is extremely refreshing and informative. It speaks for itself. It must run at every school. A buddy system can be put in place for peers to support each other. Educators’ eyes and ears cannot be everywhere. “We will be sharing this information with our after-school attendees,” said Singh.

Donae Lefleur of Restoration Empowerment Africa in Atlantis, said the training was very informative. The fact that we can go back to the discussions and information that was given to us by 1000 Women Trust, was a bonus. It was awesome,” she said. Restoration Empowerment Africa will utilize the anti-bullying training provided by 1000 Women Trust in Atlantis-schools and also in community youth centres.

“The (anti-bullying) training was very informative and made me aware of so many characteristics and signs of bullying,” said Zaheera Hasshim, program facilitator at Ekahaya ‘Lethu, a Non-Profit organization. “We do social behaviour change programs in schools and this training (of 1000 Women Trust) is a big help as we do not have any programs related to bullying. What I realize is that schools in our area (in the Northern Cape) have no policies on bullying. I could give them the information shared with us in this training.

“I would definitely recommend the 1000 Women Anti-bullying training to parents and teachers as they are the people who have to identify bullying and solve it. “

“The training (performed by 1000 Women Trust) was very informative,” said Lettitia Weziwe Tsutsu, volunteer at Qutlo health promotions in East London. “It has helped me understand the importance of self-esteem.

“The anti-bullying policy is very important and every parent, teacher and member of the community should know about it. Now I understand that each and every school should have an anti-bullying policy that can be shared with parents and students in all institutions. I would recommend this training to every person.”

“The anti-bullying policy (of 1000 Women Trust) should be compulsory at all schools. Sadly all schools don’t have a policy in place. If only all educations and parents become knowledgeable about this policy, there will be so much prevention. As a community activist, I will encourage the training of 1000 Women Trust to everyone,” said Margo Johnson, founder of a NPO, and one of the people that thoroughly benefited from the 1000 Women Trust anti-bullying training course.

Winston Arries, a grade-7-teacher at West Poort Primary School in Mitchells Plain, said the interventions by 1000 Women Trust gave everybody a better insight into the common challenges all people face with the pandemic called bullying. “Seems our schools are the ‘’breeding grounds’’ for bullies as kids get an alternative place to lash out when they don’t succeed at home. Parents and teachers shouldnpt sweep this under the rug but deal with it immediately and decisively in order to protect the victim and in a way, also the bully. Schools and organisations should make this a scheduled point of discussion in their project planning or curriculum. I believe some schools just do what they must, according to the text book. More partnerships should be formed when dealing with this scourge as 1000 Women Trust cannot cover the entire spectrum of society. I have found that you (1000 Women Trust) are doing a sterling job in trying to address this issue.”

Thabile Ndima said: “the anti-bullying course opened our eyes (to make us aware of the danger of bullying). Bullying happens every day to our children. The thing is: we are not aware. As we learned about different types of bullying we know that it happens even at homes, not only at school.

“This course teaches us to handle all types of bullying. Now I am trying to plan a campaign about gender-based violence and bullying in the community. This course taught me a lot.”

A recent study showed that South Africa is rated second in the world with the highest statistics of cyber-bullying – defined as when a child or group of children, under the age of 18, intentionally intimidate, offend, threaten or embarrass another child or group of children, specifically using information technology.

Statistics around the world also show that male bullies at school are twice as likely to turn to bullying their girlfriends and spouses in later years. Additionally, statistics also show that child bullies usually have experienced violence in the home between adults.

Tougher legislation is needed in South Africa when it comes to bullying and a formal stand against any form of bullying in the young or the old can bring an awareness into the future that could influence the lowering of statistics of violence against Women and Girls in this country.

It’s reported that as many as 57% of South African learners have been bullied at some time during their high-school careers. When one considers that we have 2.2 million school-going children in this country, those percentages translate into truly staggering numbers.

This is alarming and 1000 Women Trust has decided to create awareness and provide Women and Girls to find their own solutions to the problem of Bullying in our communities.

Bullying is repeated and intentional threats, physical assaults, and intimidation that occur when individuals or a group exert their real or perceived difference in power or strength on another.

Bullying commonly occurs in schools and can be in the shape of physical, verbal, social, or electronic aggression.

Bullying can take many forms:

• Verbal bullying — includes name-calling, threats of harm, and taunting.


• Social bullying — can involve excluding someone intentionally, encouraging others to socially exclude someone, spreading rumours, or publicly shaming someone.


• Physical bullying — often results in physically harming someone or their belongings by hitting, punching, pushing, spitting, kicking, or tripping.


• Cyberbullying — involves using electronic media such as on the Internet, texting, and social media to spread hurtful and damaging stories, rumours, and images. Although cyberbullying can take place anywhere and anytime, this form of bullying often can travel rapidly through a school population and beyond, devastating the victims and leaving them feeling powerless.

Learners who are perceived as different by other are more likely to be bullied. These more vulnerable learners include LGBT youth, learners with physical, learning, or mental health disabilities, and learners who are targeted for differences in race, ethnicity, or religion.

Both learners who bully and learners who are bullied can suffer lasting psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress. It is vital that schools provide support to all the learners involved in a bullying incident and that schools take steps to reduce bullying.

In a trauma-informed school, the best deterrent to bullying and cyberbullying is to create a culture of acceptance and communication. Such a culture empowers learners to find positive ways to resolve conflicts and has an 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. These steps can help you get started:

• Establish an anti-bullying policy — Know your state and district policies and seek input from all members of your school community to determine how your school will implement rules of conduct, a way for learners to report bullying, and the process by which the school will act to address reported bullying. Communicate the anti-bullying policy with all stakeholders (Teachers, Learners and parents)
• 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. Arrange sessions where children can speak out and report.
• Educate the school community — Incorporate bullying prevention in lesson plans, teach learners how to effectively respond to bullying, and provide resources for parents so they can be partners in your anti-bullying efforts. Encourage the community to participate in awareness campaigns.

In partnership with children’s advocacy organisations 1000 Women Trust has created several tools for teachers to use to communicate Bullying to learners at a young age. In addition, we have designed posters to give advice of how to create BULLY FREE Schools.

To encourage participation, we are launching an ANTI-BULLYING Poster competition. Our research shows that art is a powerful tool for social change and using art create opportunity for dialogue and creating social change.

Our focus at the 1000 Women Trust will be to provide women the opportunity to learn how bullying affect leaders and what we as parents and friends can do to support other women and girls.

Increase in extortion by traditional healers, ukuthwala must be investigated

by Karen Specter • 11 September 2025
PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF 1000 WOMEN TRUST: 8 TH SEPTEMBER 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ‘Increase in extortion by traditional healers, ukuthwala must be investigated’ There is an alarming increase in cases of traditional healers who are abducting young girls and boys and approaching parents to pay extortion money by threatening them that their children will die if they don’t pay, said Thuto Setlogelo, an ambassador of the women-led organization1000 Women Trust and deputy director of risk management at the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. “I have personally handled cases where sangomas took children without the consent of the parents and refused to release them unless they pay extortion money,” said Setlogelo. “I handled the case of a 23-year old girl in Ladybrand when I accompanied the mother from Bloemfontein to fetch the daughter. I have also handled the case of a 25-year old man, also abducted by sangomas without the parents’ consent and who refused to release them unless the parents pay ransom,” said Setlogelo. “These traditional healers have transgressed the ethical code and are clueless about the laws pertaining to bullying and gender-based violence,” said Setlogelo. Setlogelo says she is in talks with the department of health as well as with mor regeneration leaders to do roadshows and workshops in the Free State engaging with traditional leaders so that they can understand the legislation and legal framework. “These sangomas work informally but there is no compliance with the law,” she says. “Some of these traditional healers are bullies who abduct youth and adults into initiation processes without consent of parents and extort parents with threats to the victim that their lives will end tragically if parents do not pay,” she warned. Cynthia Khumalo, an ambassador and board member of 1000 Women Trust, said: “Some self-proclaimed healers see extortion as a quick way to make money. I had a case that a learner was raped by a traditional healer and threatened her that if she says anything about it he is going to kill the whole family,” Khumalo added. “Threats give them control over vulnerable families who fear spiritual consequences,” Khumalo said. Although healers are recognised under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (2007), many operate informally, outside any code of ethics, Khumalo said. Families fear speaking out because questioning a healer may be seen as disrespectful to ancestors, Khumalo said. Authentic healers serve communities, preserve life, and accept reasonable compensation. Abusers exploit fear, demand unreasonable money, and harm families – they are not healers but extortionists hiding behind culture, Khumalo said. “Payment for healing is part of our culture, but when money is demanded through threats, abduction, or fear, that is no longer healing – it is extortion, it is abuse, and it is criminal,” Khumalo said. Setlogelo said she plans roadshows engaging with traditional healers, where she will personally train them to ensure that they do trauma training courses and an anti-bully course so that they integrate these materials into their initiation schools and abide by a code of conduct. Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, said there must be a renewed spotlight on harmful cultural practices that endanger the lives of young women in South Africa, including abuse by traditional healers and Ukuthwala. “Ukuthwala is the South African term for bride kidnapping, the practice of a man abducting a young girls and forcing her into marriage, often without the consent of her parents. “These marriages by capture occur mainly in rural parts of South Africa, in particular the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal,” Thiart said. “In one year – 2021 – 34 young girls were killed by their “husbands” in the Eastern Cape, and indication that Ukuthwala is still in practice,” Thiart added. Palesa Mbowe, an ambassador and board member of 1000 Women Trust, says in the Eastern Cape cases have been reported where young girls (some as young as 12 or 13) were abducted under the pretense of Ukuthwala and forced into marriages with older men. Survivors described been taken from school, beaten into submission and denied education. Some suffered early pregnancies, health complication and lifelong trauma. “This shown how culture can be twisted into abuse. True African tradition never supported the destruction of children’s futures,” said Mboweni. “There have been cases of women killed by partners who claimed that violence was a form of discipline or manhood,” she added. The practice of Ukuthwala is still rife in the country and is possibly one of the multiple causes of teenage pregnancies. In the past financial year there was more of 122000 teenagers who gave birth, with 2718 young girls aged 10 to 14 and 119587 teens aged 15 to 19, Thiart added. Recently, the Eastern Cape Aids-council revealed that more than 300 girls aged between 10 and 14 gave birth in the Eastern Cape since April 2024. More than 15000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 gave birth at public healthcare facilities in the 2024/2025 financial year. Some of the cases of girls falling pregnant, have links to Ukuthwala, says Thiart. Khumalo said the abuse of traditional healing and the distortion of Ukuthwala are urgent threats to South Africa’s women and children. These practices are not culture — they are crimes. “We must stop hiding behind the word ‘tradition.’ Ukuthwala is child trafficking, and healer extortion is criminal abuse. Our girls deserve safety, education, and the chance to grow up free from violence,” Khumalo said. Thiart said when a girl of between 10 and 14 falls pregnant, it is statutory rape and should be investigated and the perpetrator must face the consequences of his actions. There must also be a formal investigation into the practices of traditional healers abducting men and women, and of the practice of ukuthwala. The perpetrators of ukuthwala must face lengthy jail time, and the practice must be rooted out and eradicated. Press release compiled by Fanie Heyns on behalf of 1000 Women Trust. For more information, contact Palesa Mboweni on 0815175645 or contact Cynthia Khumalo on 0723862771.t 1000 Women Trust on info@1000women.co.za or visit the website on www.1000women.co.za .

1000 Women Trust’s powerful trauma volunteer training course is scaling new heights – reaches milestone of 20000

by Karen Specter • 11 September 2025
Uyinene Mrewetyana-march and 1000 Women Trust’s continuous work in communities The annual Uyinene Mrwetyana Memorial March is proving to have a profound positive impact on the ground, particularly in shifting attitudes among men and young boys. On Saturday 23 rd August 2025, Staff and students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and other institutions; pupils, staff, and members of the public braved cold and rainy weather to take part in the anti-gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) walk. The march stretched from Darling Street, near the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, to Parliament. This year’s theme, “Reimagining Safety: Developing the Boy Child as Catalysts for Change”, was chosen to highlight the role of nurturing, educating, and empowering boys as part of building a safer society for all. The march was organised by the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation (UMF), in partnership with UCT and organisations such as Langa For Men. (Source: University of Cape Town news, 26 th August 2025). The event honoured the memory of 19-year-old Uyinene Mrwetyana, a UCT student who was raped and murdered by postal worker Luyanda Botha at the Clareinch Post Office in 2019, as well as all victims of GBVF. Popular artist Zolani Mahola moved the crowd with a powerful performance. Leading the march were Uyinene’s mother, Noma Mrwetyana; UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness Professor Elelwani Ramugondo; and former Western Cape MEC for Health Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, among others. While GBV cases increase, efforts like the Uyinene Mrwetyana Memorial March are making a positive impact. Although the pain of Uyinene’s death remains, her mother said she has witnessed signs of change. A traffic officer told her that Uyinene’s story brought him closer to his daughter, who is at university. (Source: University of Cape Town news, 26 th August 2025). “So, change is happening on the ground. We may not see it, but in the minds of men there is some change in how they view young girls and how they raise their children. There are many women who have been saved because of Uyinene’s passing. We are saying no other woman must go through what she went through.” Addressing the marchers, Professor Ramugondo rooted her call to action in South Africa’s history and collective responsibility. “You can’t live when you have harmed a woman because land is incubated within these very bodies. We’re not talking about physical death … you exist only in flesh, but you are gone. You are no longer a human being in the sense of ubuntu. When a woman’s body becomes a weapon of war in a country that is otherwise not at war, something is broken.” Tina Thiart, cofounder of 1000 Women Trust, said the violent death of Uyinene Mrwetyana sparked a national uproar and demands from women-led organization for change which led to the first presidential summit against gender-based violence and femicide. 1000 Women Trust has been at the forefront of the campaign to change the hearts and minds of toddlers, teenagers and men through its Talking to Boys-campaign, a campaign that is ongoing. “But we are also equipping communities to deal with the avalanche of gender-based violence through our GBV-Warriors who, at safe rooms, create safe spaces for women who were subjected to gender-based violence. Our quest to equip 52 safe rooms with resources where our GBV-Warriors can assist affected women and children, are continuing,” Thiart said. 1000 Women Trust collaborate with Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and women-led groups to raise awareness and support survivors of GBV. Our belief: with access to knowledge, skills, and resources, women can find their own solutions. We advocate for gender equality in our communities. For more information, contact the Trust on info@1000women.co.za or phone on 061-4690479.

Uyinene Mrewetyana-march and 1000 Women Trust’s continuous work in communities

by Karen Specter • 11 September 2025
Advocate makes alarming claims about victims of child rape admitted to Care Centers About 60 to 65 % of people treated at the Thuthuzela Care Centers are children who are raped in their family homes in South Africa, says advocate Tarisai Mchuchu-MacMillan, executive director of the Mosaic women’s training service and healing centre. Adv. Mchuchu-MacMillan spoke at a women-in-dialogue-event, hosted by the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, a pioneer in the field of creating awareness of gender-based violence, at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town during the weekend. More than 250 women attended the glittering event and were welcomed by Marlene le Roux, CEO of the Artscape Theatre. Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, said these alarming revelations form part of a bigger picture pf 113 women that are raped every day. According to a recent study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) an estimated total of 1 338 336 women were abused roughly between January and December of 2021 and 432 525 women were sexually abused. When one pay tribute to the more than 20000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 th August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to women, one must also pay tribute to the more than 950 SA women that are murdered in each quarter of the year, she said. Thiart also referred to the statistics that underline the gender inequality that still exist in South Africa. “One in five girls get married before they get to the age of 16 and one in four girls do not enroll at secondary school,” she said. “In South Africa, women, on average earn 30 % less than men, and of the 50000 sexual offences that are reported annually, most go unpunished,” Thiart added. “Girls in rural areas are twice as likely to drop out of school than in metropolitan areas,” Thiart said. Thiart emphasized the commitment by 1000 Women Trust of providing resources to 52 safe houses in South Africa over the next few months in support of warriors in GBV-hotspots across the country to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These safe houses fill the void in the period between an attack in the evening and the next day when these warriors will escort the women to the police stations, Thuthuzela Care Centres or the courts to lay charges. Felicity An Guest, a child maintenance expert who suffered economic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, warned at the event that a dysfunctional child maintenance court and system is often weaponized to punish the ex-wives in South Africa. She said 60 % of women in South Africa who are divorced, get zero child support due to a dysfunctional child support system. “Ultimately, these courts can become a form of oppression and make these women more vulnerable to more abuse by their ex-husbands,” she warned Lynn Hill, a globally recognized motivational speaker who overcame rape, said in a poem at the women-in-dialogue-event: “Pain became my second name and my gateway to victory. My roar is to live a purposeful life. Self-love amplifies my presence in the world.” Leonie Viljoen, a gender activist who ascended Kilimanjaro at the end of June to create awareness of GBV and femicide, said she raised more than R20000 through her efforts for 1000 Women Trust. “The climb underlined the fact that ordinary women can still do extraordinary things,” she said. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, contact the Trust on info@1000women.co.za or phone on 061 469 0479 .

Advocate makes alarming claims about victims of child rape admitted to Care Centers

by Karen Specter • 10 August 2025
Advocate makes alarming claims about victims of child rape admitted to Care Centers About 60 to 65 % of people treated at the Thuthuzela Care Centers are children who are raped in their family homes in South Africa, says advocate Tarisai Mchuchu-MacMillan, executive director of the Mosaic women’s training service and healing centre. Adv. Mchuchu-MacMillan spoke at a women-in-dialogue-event, hosted by the women-led organization 1000 Women Trust, a pioneer in the field of creating awareness of gender-based violence, at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town during the weekend. More than 250 women attended the glittering event and were welcomed by Marlene le Roux, CEO of the Artscape Theatre. Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, said these alarming revelations form part of a bigger picture pf 113 women that are raped every day. According to a recent study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) an estimated total of 1 338 336 women were abused roughly between January and December of 2021 and 432 525 women were sexually abused. When one pay tribute to the more than 20000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 th August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to women, one must also pay tribute to the more than 950 SA women that are murdered in each quarter of the year, she said. Thiart also referred to the statistics that underline the gender inequality that still exist in South Africa. “One in five girls get married before they get to the age of 16 and one in four girls do not enroll at secondary school,” she said. “In South Africa, women, on average earn 30 % less than men, and of the 50000 sexual offences that are reported annually, most go unpunished,” Thiart added. “Girls in rural areas are twice as likely to drop out of school than in metropolitan areas,” Thiart said. Thiart emphasized the commitment by 1000 Women Trust of providing resources to 52 safe houses in South Africa over the next few months in support of warriors in GBV-hotspots across the country to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These safe houses fill the void in the period between an attack in the evening and the next day when these warriors will escort the women to the police stations, Thuthuzela Care Centres or the courts to lay charges. Felicity An Guest, a child maintenance expert who suffered economic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, warned at the event that a dysfunctional child maintenance court and system is often weaponized to punish the ex-wives in South Africa. She said 60 % of women in South Africa who are divorced, get zero child support due to a dysfunctional child support system. “Ultimately, these courts can become a form of oppression and make these women more vulnerable to more abuse by their ex-husbands,” she warned Lynn Hill, a globally recognized motivational speaker who overcame rape, said in a poem at the women-in-dialogue-event: “Pain became my second name and my gateway to victory. My roar is to live a purposeful life. Self-love amplifies my presence in the world.” Leonie Viljoen, a gender activist who ascended Kilimanjaro at the end of June to create awareness of GBV and femicide, said she raised more than R20000 through her efforts for 1000 Women Trust. “The climb underlined the fact that ordinary women can still do extraordinary things,” she said. For more information about 1000 Women Trust, contact the Trust on info@1000women.co.za or phone on 061 469 0479 .

1000 Women Trust host Women in Dialogue-event – highlight on social calendar of Cape Town – on 8th August 2025

by Karen Specter • 4 August 2025
1000 Women Trust host Women in Dialogue-event – highlight on social calendar of Cape Town – on 8 th August 2025 In celebration of women’s month, 1000 Women Trust, a pioneer in the field of the creation of awareness of gender-based violence, will host one of the social highlights on the calendar of Cape Town - the women in Dialogue event – formally known as the dialogue on gender-based violence and systemic change. It will happen on 8 th August 2025 at the Chandelier Foyer, Artscape Theatre, Cape Town - a powerful platform where women’s voices, experiences, and solutions take center stage. The starting time is 12:00. About women in dialogue on gender-based violence and systemic change: In South Africa, women and girls face unequal access to education, healthcare, safety and economic opportunities. Gender-based violence, wage gaps and under representation in leadership are alarming systems of a deeper, systemic issue. That is the topic that will be discussed on Friday 8 th August in the Chandelier Foyer at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. (Group Tables are available at R2000 per table for eight people). The program, that starts on 12:00, will feature a candle lighting ceremony, a welcoming word by Wendy Ackerman, founder member of 1000 Women Trust, while Leonie Viljoen will share her experience of successfully ascending Kilimanjaro and scaling the heights for the sake of and benefit of women who suffered sexual assaults and abuse. Another highlight of the program will be a panel discussion and table dialogue on women’s inequality – economically and in leadership positions. Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust and trustee, will deliver her annual report. Lara Fouche, social media manager of 1000 Women Trust, will be the MC, while Bianca Charles will act as event coordinator. Although the Women in Dialogue-event take centre stage in August, this is only part of 1000 Women Trust’s activities during Women’s Month. 1000 Women Trust is providing free on-line trauma volunteer training in August so that women in communities all over the country can create a safe space for others affected by gender-based violence. This free trauma training counseling can be accessed on Whatsapp on (061)4690479 . The Trust also provides free on-line counseling for women in August 2025. Women can phone 061-4690479 to access this counseling service. The Trauma training course of 1000 Women Trust has been a success-story for over five years and 15000 women have completed it. The course have received rave reviews and have been one of the cornerstones of the work done by GBV-Warriors in hotspots afflicted by domestic abuse. A total of 57400 pamphlets creating awareness of gender-based violence have been distributed by the Trust. If you as are able to attend the Women in Dialogue-event, please contact Bianca Charles on 0730903362 . For more information about the Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or contact the Trust by mail on info@1000women.co.za

Mboweni highlights gender equity-challenges at C20-conference

by Karen Specter • 24 July 2025
Mboweni highlights gender equity-challenges at C20-conference Focusing on gender equality in all sectors of South African life, highlighting the factors that undermine that equity, and making people aware of the sterling work done by 1000 Women Trust to equip women to stand firm against perpetrators of gender-based violence, were part and parcel of Palesa Mboweni’s contribution at the C20 conference in Johannesburg. Mboweni, a 1000 Women Trust GBV Warrior, headed one of the 14 groups at the C20-conferences which discussed gender equity – not only in South Africa but on the continent as the C20 is representing all 19 countries that form part of the G20. The G20 aims to ensure their voices are heard. The C20, a gathering of various civil society organisations across 14 working groups, is tasked with developing policy proposals to be presented to government, comes just 23 weeks before South Africa is set to be the first African county to host the G20 Summit. The C20 aims to ensure that world leaders pay attention to the recommendations and demands of organized civil society. The goal is to boost social and economic development and human rights. The C20 seeks economic justice and efficient resource allocation to achieve this by “leaving no one behind.” A focal point – under the theme of “solidarity, equality and sustainability” is to address the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality and to promote governance reform. Mboweni says the greater access of SA women to skills development programs under digital in was emphasized by the gender equity group. The gender disparity between men and women in South Africa is well known. In 2024, the labour force participation of men stood at 65.6 %, compared to 55.8 % for women. In South Africa, women are paid on average, between 23 and 35 % less than men for the same work. This means that for every R100 a man is paid, a woman earn between R65 and R77. Some areas show a much wider disparity. Since 2016, the unemployment rate of women are generally higher than men – 36 % for women compared to 30 % for men, according to Stats SA. Mboweni says that high unemployment rate can sometimes cause desperateness amongst women and girls, which could be make them vulnerable to abuse – like a sex-for-job culture. “In our working Group we spoke about gender-based violence, and the way it hampers or undermine the effectiveness of women in the workplace. One of those factors is harassment. We emphasized that the law enforcement agencies must be strengthened in order to deal more effectively with gender-based violence and root it out,” said Mboweni. According to study by KPMG done in 2014, the economic cost of gender-based violence was between R28.4 and R42.4 billion. “At the C20, we highlighted the importance of the right education in order to underline the equality of women to men and why there is a need for economic equality,” Mboweni said. Mboweni, who was subjected to gender-based violence for an extended period, highlighted the tireless work done by 1000 Women Trust to equip women and communities with the right skills to deal with abuse and violence. One of those courses is the First Responders course that equips women with skills and knowledge during emergencies – like filling in forms to obtain a protection order, how to approach the South African Police Services and the courts. She also referred to the superb quality of the social auxiliary work training that 1000 Women Trust provide for the GBV-Warriors in order to assist these Warriors to provide a safe space for women, girls and disabled people subjected to gender-based violence. 1000 Women Trust has presented meaningful contributions in order to shape policy development for Civil Society and is positive that their voice will be heard at the G20 summit in November, says Mboweni.

Provincial minister joins forces with 1000 Women to transport resources to safe houses

by Karen Specter • 24 July 2025
1000 Women Trust plead for community-support for safe rooms on Mandela Day The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust is imploring communities to honour Madiba’s legacy on Mandela Day on Friday 18 th July by giving back to those in need by donating blankets, clothes, non-perishable food, household goods and paint to safe rooms where community stalwarts are serving survivors of gender-based violence. These community stalwarts are called GBV-Warriors and the safe rooms where they serve abused women are part of Project Orange, launched by 1000 Women Trust. The GBV-Warriors-campaign and Project Orange were initiated by 1000 Women Trust in August 2024 to provide critical support to women and children severely impacted by gender-based violence, particularly within the crucial first 24 hours after an attack. 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 safe 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. “The long term plan is to train 250 women to be GBV-Warriors and so far we have 118. The initiative on Mandela Day on Friday 18 th Jul to reach out to communities to provide material for safe rooms, will help us to better equip GBV-Warriors so that they could provide vital assistance for women who are in the cross-fire of gender-based violence and abuse in the country,” Thiart said. “The safe rooms and Project Orange are vital in assisting women in South Africa, as 114 women are daily raped and 170 are daily the victims of sexual assault,” Thiart said. People who want to donate can do it on the following platforms: GivenGain: Shortened link for GivenGain: https://www.givengain.com/project/GBV-Safe-Room EFT: NEDBANK – Savings Account 1000 Women Trust Account Number: 9022837766 Branch Code: 198765 Paypal: https://paypal.me/TThiart?country.x=ZA&locale.x=en_US Donate Goods - Blanlets, Clothes, Non perishable foods: Contact the 1000 Women Office @ 061 469 0479

1000 Women Trust plead for community-support for safe rooms on Mandela Day

by Karen Specter • 15 July 2025
1000 Women Trust plead for community-support for safe rooms on Mandela Day The women-led organization 1000 Women Trust is imploring communities to honour Madiba’s legacy on Mandela Day on Friday 18 th July by giving back to those in need by donating blankets, clothes, non-perishable food, household goods and paint to safe rooms where community stalwarts are serving survivors of gender-based violence. These community stalwarts are called GBV-Warriors and the safe rooms where they serve abused women are part of Project Orange, launched by 1000 Women Trust. The GBV-Warriors-campaign and Project Orange were initiated by 1000 Women Trust in August 2024 to provide critical support to women and children severely impacted by gender-based violence, particularly within the crucial first 24 hours after an attack. 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 safe 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. “The long term plan is to train 250 women to be GBV-Warriors and so far we have 118. The initiative on Mandela Day on Friday 18 th Jul to reach out to communities to provide material for safe rooms, will help us to better equip GBV-Warriors so that they could provide vital assistance for women who are in the cross-fire of gender-based violence and abuse in the country,” Thiart said. “The safe rooms and Project Orange are vital in assisting women in South Africa, as 114 women are daily raped and 170 are daily the victims of sexual assault,” Thiart said. People who want to donate can do it on the following platforms: GivenGain: Shortened link for GivenGain: https://www.givengain.com/project/GBV-Safe-Room EFT: NEDBANK – Savings Account 1000 Women Trust Account Number: 9022837766 Branch Code: 198765 Paypal: https://paypal.me/TThiart?country.x=ZA&locale.x=en_US Donate Goods - Blanlets, Clothes, Non perishable foods: Contact the 1000 Women Office @ 061 469 0479

Moonsamy approaches CNN after lack of action on murder-case of her daughter

by Karen Specter • 24 June 2025
A frustrated and desperate mother, Kathreen Moonsamy, has approached CNN to share her anger about the failure of the South African Police Service to act decisively after the murder of her daughter, Eden Moonsamy, who died from unnatural causes – possibly due to somebody who struck her with a blunt object against the head. Yet, there has been no justice for the family of the 19-year old Moonsamy. “That is why I approached Cable News Network (CNN), a multinational news organisation operating as a website and TV channel and headquartered in Atlanta,” says Kathreen Moonsamy. Moonsamy was murdered in Bellair in Ethekwini – and passed away on 23rd December 2023. 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. 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. 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, said Moonsamy. Eden’s friends revealed the full extent of her suffering, telling Kathreen that Eden confided in them about her boyfriend’s alleged abuse. “They informed us that Eden told them that she was in an abusive relationship and her boyfriend would hit her on hidden body parts and if he hurt her in the face, she would use make-up to cover up the bruises,” Kathreen told the Phoenix Tabloid. Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust, says that in May 2024, 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. SAPS eThekwini District communication commander, Captain Carmen Rhynes, confirmed to the Phoenix Tabloid that the case is still under investigation and that the SAPS is working closely with the National Prosecuting Authority. “The question must be asked why it is taking the police 18 months and yet there has not been any arrest,” said Thart. “Why are the police dragging their feet,” Thiart said. “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,” Thiart added. 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. For more information about the Trust, visit the website on www.1000women.co.za or phone us on 061-4690479.

Join the 1000 women trust virtual walk in solidarity with Leonie Viljoen from 27th June

by Karen Specter • 20 June 2025
Far too many women suffer behind closed doors in our country, and abuse survivor Leonie Viljoen is taking a bold step; in fact, she’s climbing Kilimanjaro to empower those silenced by fear. Leonie, who twice survived abuse during her lifetime, has decided to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa, to raise awareness for the women-led organisation 1000 Women Trust and its initiatives, which support women who have been subjected to gender-based violence. The mother of two toddlers shared that taking on the 5895-metre climb wasn’t for the thrill or the glory of the photos at the top of the mountain but in support of the women who have endured pain deeper than any crevasse on that mountain. 1000 Women Trust is inviting all women and men to join the 1000 Women Virtual Walk/ 27–30 June 2025 *Show up for yourself* We’re walking together, to support a powerful cause! From 27 to 30 June 2025, walk, run, cycle or just move! in solidarity with _Leonie Viljoen as she prepares to climb Mount Kilimanjaro_— breaking the silence on Gender-Based Violence. Let’s take steps toward a safer, more empowered world for women and girls. Your participation helps amplify this vital message. Entry Fee: R300 Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTHBMU0A51N6xIaJz_GETA6SGeBCluhYhvPIXzBMu6pedyKA/viewform?usp=sharing Whether it’s around your block, in your living room, or on a mountain trail—your walk matters. #1000WomenVirtualWalk #WalkForChange #BreakTheSilence #GBVawareness #SupportLeonie #ClimbForACause #ShowUpForYourself I am doing this in my own community and donate to 1000 Women Trust https://www.givengain.com/project/leonie-kili8