Speakers at the sixth National Shelter Indaba in Benoni called on men to participate more actively in combating harmful attitudes, intervene in their communities' lives, and demand that perpetrators be held accountable.
The event, which took place from Tuesday to Thursday with support from the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA), focused on the theme 'Social integration of interventions regarding Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)'. This call came against a backdrop of new concerns raised by the discovery of women's bodies in eKhuruleni, which once again highlighted issues of the gender violence and femicide crisis in South Africa.
Setha Naiker from Faith Action Collective and Fathers Matter stated that men must be 'active, positive, and present' in confronting gender-based violence. He emphasized that gender-based violence cannot be ignored as solely a women's issue; rather, it is a problem affecting both men and boys.
Activist Irfan Mangera of RISE Mzansi noted that simply distancing oneself from violence is insufficient. He believes that upbringing, which shapes the belief in the acceptability of certain thoughts and behaviors, needs to be reviewed and rethought. Mangera advised men to analyze and challenge ingrained childhood attitudes and behavioral patterns when they manifest.
Former South African Interpol Ambassador and security strategist Andy Mashale stated that communities also need to strengthen ties with investigators so that information about potential threats and crimes can reach the police. Mashale noted that citizen safety must be based on established working relationships with investigators. Sharing his personal experience related to the rape of his daughter in 2007, he stressed the importance of trust in law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system.
Director of Social Development responsible for the Victim Empowerment Program, Sibuso Malope, reported that despite efforts to strengthen the national response, South Africa continues to face a high prevalence of GBVF.
eKhuruleni Executive Mayor Nkosindifile Khakaza appealed to men to challenge harmful behavior in families and communities. She demanded that eKhuruleni men stand up for women, protect them, intervene, and not look away from what is happening.
Meanwhile, activists from March and March, ActionSA, and MK Party held a picket outside the Central Durban police station to draw attention to the GBV issue and demand action from law enforcement. This protest followed the discovery of a woman's body in Down Park, eKhuruleni, increasing the number of found female bodies in the area to nine over two months.
In Copswill, Pietermaritzburg, police discovered the body of a woman whose hands were tied behind her back and who had burns, dumped in an illegal landfill. Furthermore, in the 2025/26 financial year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) received 50,511 reports of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), of which 30,736 led to arrests or referral to the National Prosecuting Authority.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobeze-Zuma stated that the picket aimed to demand investigations into the murders and provide answers to affected communities. She suggested that the dumping of bodies is an attempt to send a specific message. Ngobeze-Zuma insisted on the need to involve experts for a faster clarification of circumstances, as further deaths of women cannot be allowed, and the overall picture must be understood. She also pointed out that the rule of law system lacks trust due to alleged corruption, bribery, and mismanagement.
The Gauteng police discovered at least nine bodies in the Kempton Park murder case. ActionSA activist Zwakhele Mncvango from KwaZulu-Natal stated that GBV should concern all residents of South Africa. He called on law enforcement agencies and President Cyril Ramaphosa to pay more attention to the murders, arguing that 'something is wrong with our crime intelligence service.'