Shudufhadzo Musida: GBV rooted in toxic masculinity

Speaking at the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Musida said there needs to be shift in the approach to dealing with violence against women and children.

She urged government and society to ensure perpetrators take accountability and not to put the burden of the crisis on the victims and survivors. 

“I think one thing that is evident is that there needs to be collective responsibility in our society in order to fight what is a pandemic. Gender-based violence and femicide are rooted in toxic masculinity which need to be dismantled,” she said. 

“This pandemic needs a collective responsibility as a society and that starts by getting everyone a seat at the table so we cannot exclude certain members of our society from this conversation because it starts with these conversations and the mindsets of our society for change to come about.” 

Musida said while there is a link between violence and substance abuse, men cannot hide behind alcohol as an excuse for raising a hand to women. 

“These conversations need to start at the root which is among men themselves. It starts with accountability because there is a perpetuation of gender-based violence and feminicide because it’s often put forward as a woman’s problem and we spend our time and resources teaching women how not to become victims by changing how we speak and how we carry ourselves, when in actual fact we need to start with the perpetrators,” Musida added.  

Meanwhile the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) apologised for the industry’s role in perpetuating GBV. 

Santaco president Phillip Taaibosch said the industry would throw its weight behind the campaign.  

“On behalf of the taxi industry in South Africa, we welcome the 16 days launch that has been effected by the President and the Minister in the Presidency and we want to assure South Africans of our support as a taxi industry but it will be very important for me, because of the history that we come from, to apologise to all women and children and people living with disabilities that while you are giving us support but we are still not giving you the necessary support that you deserve.

“Let me assure you with the past recognition that the President has bestowed upon the taxi industry through the Lekgotla that we are now able to stand up and say ‘not in our name’,” he added. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the commitment by the taxi industry.  

“I want to applaud the leadership and indeed the membership of the taxi association for coming forward and making this historic statement. I applaud them and I think we should embrace what they have said and welcome the fact that from now on they will be saying ‘not in our name’ and they will be propagating a clear message to their members, to their operatives that women must be respected.” 

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