The Star newspaper has issued a statement against the ongoing violence against women and femicide in South Africa. Its black front page features a single word—ENOUGH!, which serves as a deliberate and stark visual declaration of grief, anger, and solidarity with women and families affected by gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
This move comes amid growing outrage over the deaths of eight women in the eKhuruleni area, as well as the widespread prevalence of GBVF, which continues to claim lives across South Africa. The publication emphasizes that shock and anger can no longer be mere temporary reactions to yet another murder of a woman.
The Star states that the situation must change. It is a call for the government to move beyond promises, strategies, and declarations toward providing real measures, accountability, and justice. It is also a demand that the police and the criminal justice system address violence against women with due urgency.
Furthermore, the publication calls on communities to challenge attitudes and behaviors that contribute to violence, and urges all South Africans to reject the acceptance of women's murders as an inevitable part of society. Importantly, this also means giving a voice to women who cannot speak for themselves, and to the remaining families mourning daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends.
The article notes that information about other murder cases might have remained unknown had Elizabeth 'Ntso' Moselakgomo's friends and family not raised the alarm about her disappearance. Thus, ENOUGH! is not just a headline, but a clear stance by the publication. The Star is convinced that women should have the right to live, work, travel, and love without fear of becoming the next victim.