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Al Jazeera
20-06-2025
- Al Jazeera
African manhood is broken – and it's costing women their lives
On May 25, Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old woman from South Africa, went on a date with a man she had recently met. Less than two hours later, she was dead. Her half-naked body was found by the roadside in Lombardy West, a suburb north of Johannesburg. It showed signs of severe trauma and bruising. Investigators concluded that she had been murdered elsewhere and dumped at the scene. Her brutal and senseless killing led to a wave of grief and outrage on social media. Days later, a family spokesperson revealed that Mongale – a master's student at the University of the Witwatersrand – had once worked as a journalist. She left the profession seven years ago due to the emotional toll of reporting on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Her family said Mongale had grown increasingly anxious about her own vulnerability to male violence. In particular, the 2017 murder of 22-year-old Karabo Mokoena haunted her. Mokoena was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, who then burned her body beyond recognition and buried the remains in open grassland in Lyndhurst – a suburb just kilometres from where Mongale's body was found. Despite her conscious efforts to avoid Mokoena's fate, Mongale ultimately became what she had feared most: another name added to the long and growing list of South African women murdered by men. At her funeral on June 1, her mother, Keabetswe Mongale, said her daughter had tried desperately to fight off her attacker. 'When I saw her at the government mortuary, I could see that my daughter fought. She fought until her nails broke,' she said. Her devastating death serves as a stark reminder that women and girls across South Africa continue to face an existential threat from gender-based violence, despite years of government promises and reforms. On May 24, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill establishing the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The body is mandated to provide leadership and coordination in the fight against GBVF. While it appeared to be a step forward, it did not represent a transformative policy shift. This is not the first such initiative. In 2012, then-Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe launched the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence, with a similar mandate to coordinate national anti-GBV efforts. More than a decade later, with yet another council in place, GBVF crimes continue. In November 2023, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa released the country's first national study on GBVF. It found that the persistence of gender-based violence is rooted in 'deeply ingrained societal norms and structures that perpetuate male dominance and reinforce gender hierarchies … leading to female subordination, systemic inequalities, and violence against women'. The destructive effect of entrenched patriarchy is undeniable. In South Africa, a woman is murdered every three hours. That is approximately 8 women a day. One study estimates that around 7.8 million women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence. While women of all races and backgrounds are affected, Black women face higher rates of GBVF – an enduring legacy of apartheid and its structural inequalities. This crisis is not unique to South Africa. The terror faced by women and girls is a continent-wide phenomenon. In November 2024, the United Nations published its report Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides, revealing that Africa had the world's highest rate of partner-related femicide that year. Kenya stands out for its staggering figures. Between September 2023 and December 2024, the country recorded more than 7,100 cases of sexual and gender-based violence. These included the murders of at least 100 women by male acquaintances, relatives, or intimate partners in just four months. Among the victims was Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympian and mother of two, who competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Games. On September 5, 2024, she died in Eldoret, Kenya, from severe burns after her former partner doused her in petrol and set her alight during a domestic dispute. He himself later died in a hospital from his injuries. The Kenyan government later recognised GBVF as the most pressing security challenge facing the country — a belated but crucial move. On May 26, Kenya's National Gender and Equality Commission noted that the surge in GBVF crimes was driven by 'a complex interplay of cultural, social, economic, and legal factors'. Patriarchal traditions continue to fuel inequality and legitimise violence, while harmful practices such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and dowry-related violence further endanger women's lives. Economic hardship and women's financial dependence only deepen their vulnerability. Across the continent, we are witnessing a dangerous resurgence of archaic patriarchal norms. The COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 further exposed the scale of the crisis. Since then, countless behavioural change campaigns have been launched, but they have largely failed. This is no surprise. According to Afrobarometer data from November 2023, nearly 48 percent of all Africans believe domestic violence is a private matter, not a criminal offence. The uncomfortable truth is that many African men, regardless of education or economic status, do not prioritise the safety or rights of women and girls. On International Women's Day last year, South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi said it plainly: 'Men are not doing enough.' Indeed, many continue to uphold harmful customs such as child marriage and remain disengaged from efforts to protect women. Years of empty rhetoric have led to a growing body count. It is time for African men to take full ownership of this crisis and commit to radical change. They must reject cultural practices and ideals of manhood that dehumanise women. African cultures are not unchangeable, and patriarchy is not destiny. A new, egalitarian model of African masculinity must be nurtured — one based on dignity, equality, and nonviolence. This cultural reorientation must begin in families and be sustained through schools, religious and traditional forums, and community life. It must happen for Olarato Mongale. For Rebecca Cheptegei. For the thousands of others whose lives were stolen. And most urgently, it must happen for the women and girls across Africa who live each day knowing that their greatest threat may come from the men closest to them. There can be no just African future unless African manhood is transformed.
The Herald
31-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
From Uyinene to Olorato: GBV cases that sparked a national outcry
As South Africa grapples with an alarmingly high rate of gender-based violence (GBV) incidents, numerous cases have sparked a widespread outrage and calls for urgent action. Nine-hundred-and-fifty seven women were murdered between July and September 2024 and thousands more were victims of attempted murder. The recent murder of Olorato Mongale has reignited the debate on GBV Here are some notable cases that have shocked the nation. 1. Olorato Mongale, 30 What seemed to be an innocent date turned into a nightmare for Mongale. Her body was found near Lombardy West after she went on a date with her alleged killer. The man allegedly drove with the victim, killed her and dumped her body. 2. Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19 A University of Cape Town student was brutally raped and murdered inside a post office in 2019. She went to the post office to collect a parcel she had bought online. 3. Tshegofatso Pule, 28 Her heavily pregnant body, covered in blood, was found hanging from a tree after she was shot dead in June 2020 in Durban Deep, Roodepoort. She was eight months pregnant at the time. The police established that her boyfriend, Ntuthuko Shoba, hired a hitman to kill her. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2022. 4. Reeva Steenkamp, 29 A model and reality TV star who was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, in 2013, claiming that he thought it was an intruder. The case drew international attention and raised questions about domestic violence and gun control. 5. Nosicelo Mtebeni, 23 The Fort Hare student was brutally killed and dismembered in August 2021 by her boyfriend. Her body parts were found in a suitcase near a dump site in East London 6. Karabo Mokoena, 22 The young woman was brutally murdered by her boyfriend Sandile Mantsoe who initially claimed Karabo committed suicide in April 2017. She went missing and her body was found a few days later burnt in a field in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg. Her case sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. 7. Chesnay Keppler, 22 A crime prevention warden who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, a police officer, in 2022. 8. Gontse Ntseza, 19 A murdered young woman whose body was found under a bridge in Hammanskraal in 2024 after going missing after a night out with friends. 9. Nomsa Jass, 26 Jass went missing after she left her place of work in Potchefstroom, North West. Her body was found in Carletonville in Gauteng. 10. Hannah Cornelius, 21 Cornelius, a Stellenbosch university student was abducted by a gang in Stellenbosch in May 2017 after a night out, which led to her being raped and murdered.
News24
29-05-2025
- General
- News24
Two men wanted for Olorato Mongale's murder had prior kidnapping, robbery arrests
Two of the people wanted for the murder of Olorato Mongale were arrested earlier this year for the alleged kidnapping and robbery of another woman. Bongani Mthimkhulu and Philangenkosi Makhanya were arrested in the Brakpan area on 20 April this year, and they were granted bail six days later. Less than a month later, the same two men are now wanted for the murder of 30-year-old Mongale, whose body was recovered in Lombardy West on Sunday after she went on what she thought was a date with a man she met who called himself John. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the men have been linked to other cases, as many women are calling in and giving information about meeting Mthimkhulu and Makhanya. The men allegedly used the same modus operandi, meeting women in malls, asking them out and then robbing them.
News24
27-05-2025
- Business
- News24
City Power faces financial ruin; ‘Tsotsi' star dies: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 reads of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. 'I know she fought': Murdered Olorato Mongale's final moments revealed Olorato Mongale was murdered after meeting a man she connected with online; the man picked her up in a car with cloned plates. Her friend tracked her phone to multiple locations, eventually finding her belongings in Kew and her body in Lombardy West, Johannesburg. Police are investigating the man, known as 'John', and a possible accomplice, while Olorato's family and friends mourn the loss of a loving and ambitious young woman. Stellenbosch urination saga: Court finds Theuns du Toit not guilty Theuns du Toit, a former Stellenbosch University student, was acquitted of crimen injuria and malicious damage to property. The charges stemmed from a 2022 incident where he urinated on the belongings of fellow student Babalo Ndwayana. Du Toit had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court. R16.3bn crisis: Joburg's City Power faces financial ruin as mayor allegedly buries reports City Power's R16.3 billion negative bank balance is jeopardising Johannesburg's ability to deliver services and remain financially sustainable, with the municipality having to fund the utility's operations from its own budget. Mayor Dada Morero is accused of concealing reports about City Power's financial crisis from the Johannesburg council, potentially violating the Municipal Finance Management Act. Internal documents warn of a looming collapse of services in Johannesburg due to City Power's inability to pay its liabilities, with the City's funds being used to prop up the utility. Rand buoyant ahead of rates decision The rand has strengthened to its best levels since December 2024 due to a weaker dollar and speculation about a new, lower inflation target in South Africa. Analysts are divided on whether the South African Reserve Bank will cut interest rates this week, with a lower inflation target potentially limiting future cuts. The dollar is under pressure due to concerns about US tax cuts adding trillions to the national debt and investor unease over President Donald Trump's economic policies. Award-winning Tsotsi and The River star Presley Chweneyagae dies aged 40 Actor Presley Chweneyagae, known for his role as Cobra on The River and in the film Tsotsi, has died at the age of 40. Chweneyagae gained international recognition for his starring role in Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2005. His management confirmed his death, highlighting his legacy as a gifted actor, mentor, and advocate for empowering the next generation of artists. Veteran broadcaster Darren Scott dies after decades-long cancer battle Radio broadcaster Darren Scott has died at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer. Scott had been battling melanoma since 1986, and the cancer aggressively returned in early 2023. His former wife expressed gratitude for the support he received, with over R515 000 raised to aid his treatment. Robyn Beck / AFP World's Strongest Man Rayno Nel happy to carry Mzansi on his back: 'It's life-changing' Rayno Nel, South Africa's World's Strongest Man, is grateful for the support he's received after his historic win, attributing his success to mental strength and his wife's support. Nel balances his strongman aspirations with his job as an engineering director, training extensively while relying on mental fortitude to overcome challenging sessions. His wife, Mayno Nel, plays a crucial role by providing support, managing his diet, and assisting with media, highlighting the sacrifices and teamwork involved in his journey to success.
