In a cramped street of Johannesburg’s Organic Market, a group of men sat in a circle on dusty floor, each sharing a story of past abuse. One, Kgomotso Mathekga, 30, spoke candidly: “I once hit my girlfriend. I can’t keep making my child feel my guilt.”
The meeting marks part of a wider campaign by local NGO Father A Nation to teach positive masculinity and stop violence against women. Bra Steve, the group’s leader, raises his fist and says, “We are men; we must stand together against gender‑based violence.”
Their efforts come after authorities uncovered 12 bodies in the Ekurhuleni region in three months, inflaming fears across South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced enhanced street lighting and a review of unsolved cases, but critics argue those steps are too little and late.
Craig Wilkinson, founder of the group, explains, “We get men to talk, to process feelings, and then teach them healthy ways to act.” He believes this path will ultimately eliminate femicide.
Women in the area, such as Providence Maseko, now rely on e‑hailing taxis for safety. Others, like Linkie, do not feel safe walking alone outside. Bra Steve urges men to create trust and open dialogue to make communities safer.
As the gathering ends, men promise to keep practicing what they have learned, remembering that role models have vanished and they must step up for future generations.
