Born Free: The gender-based violence epidemic is South Africa's hidden war
This Week on
Born Free
: Unpacking Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
In our most urgent episode yet, hosts
Otsile Nkadimeng
and
Khumo Kumalo
sit down with
Michael Benévolent Masina
from the
TEARS Foundation
to confront one of South Africa's most pressing and painful crises:
gender-based violence (GBV).
Prompted by the national outcry over the tragic case of
Cwecwe
and the unresolved disappearance of
Joshlin
, this conversation exposes the deep-rooted systemic failures—within our justice system, communities, and national conscience—that continue to allow GBV to thrive.
This isn't an easy listen. But it's a conversation we must have.
From the voices of survivors to the work being done on the frontlines, we unpack what meaningful change looks like—and the courage it takes to demand it.
🎙️
Subscribe to
Born Free
and help amplify the voices calling for justice.
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Share this episode
to raise awareness and be part of the movement to #EndGBV.
#BornFreePodcast #JusticeForCwecwe #JusticeForJoshlin #EndGBV #SouthAfrica #TearsFoundation #SpeakUp #GenderJustice #YouthVoices #NoMoreSilence
Khumo Kumalo
is the visionary behind
Misunderstood
and the dynamic co-host of
Born Free
. Named one of the
Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans of 2024
, he is a bold voice in the country's evolving political discourse.
As the author of
Newsletter
94
(formerly Misunderstood), Kumalo delves into South Africa's complex history and shifting political landscape, reflecting on the dreams and realities of a post-apartheid nation. His passion for debate and current affairs was ignited at
St John's College
, later taking him to
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia
, where he continued to sharpen his perspective on leadership and social change.
Kumalo isn't just asking questions—he's challenging narratives, sparking conversations, and pushing South Africa's youth to rethink what it truly means to be
Born Free
.
Otsile Nkadimeng
is a
published author, policy writer, and changemaker
, balancing his role as a
second-year university student
with a deep commitment to youth empowerment. Recognized by
News24
for his impact and awarded the
Young Nelson Mandela Award in 2023
, he is shaping conversations on democracy, governance, and sustainability.
As the
Executive Director of SoWeVote
, a platform he co-founded, Nkadimeng is making it easier for young South Africans to access critical information about politics and democracy. His advocacy extends beyond borders—he serves as a
Youth Advisor to the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria
and is a
fellow at the International Youth Think Tank
, where he contributes to global youth policy discussions.
Passionate about sustainability, he has co-founded and led multiple initiatives aimed at environmental and social progress across South Africa. Whether in civic engagement, international diplomacy, or grassroots activism, Nkadimeng is at the forefront of youth-led change, proving that young voices aren't just part of the conversation—they're leading it.
Disclaimer:
'Born Free'
is an opinion-based podcast and does not represent the views of M&G Media (PTY) LTD, its owners, affiliates, employees, or partners. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not reflect the editorial stance of the Mail & Guardian.
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Daily Maverick
13 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
How a city came together to rewrite its future in the age of climate change
The People's Plan for the Right to Housing in the age of Climate Change was created by the people, for the people. On 29 May, it was officially adopted by the City of eThekwini as part of its Integrated Development Plan. Complaining about government inaction is practically a national hobby for South Africans – and I get it. Taxes are paid, yet services go undelivered and infrastructure crumbles. But by law, it's the government's job, not ours, to protect the most vulnerable – to ensure safe housing, emergency relief and basic services, especially when disaster strikes. But what happens when ordinary citizens decide waiting isn't good enough? What happens when communities, academics, activists and city officials gather, in churches, libraries, and community halls (wherever they can find a free room) to build the system they wish already existed? In April 2022, catastrophic floods devastated KwaZulu-Natal, causing landslides, collapsing apartment blocks, sweeping away informal settlements and leaving about 489 people dead and more than 40,000 displaced. It is widely considered one of the deadliest storms of this generation in South Africa. A year later, the City of eThekwini's 2023 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) came out, and the 1,000-page document was widely criticised as a copy-and-paste job. It reused outdated content from previous integrated development plans (2002 and 2015) and failed to meaningfully address climate adaptation or disaster risk in human settlements. Despite a promised R1-billion flood relief fund from the National Treasury, the money had still not been accessed by the province. 'We didn't want them to fix the city back to the way it was, which was very unequal,' said Kira Erwin of the environmental justice group groundWork, and part of the Durban Coalition's leadership. 'It needed to be fixed in a way that also addressed inequality.' After the floods, groundWork, along with civil society, academics and residents, grew increasingly concerned that eThekwini wasn't adapting to climate risks. 'The question was, what do we need to do to become better prepared the next time a disaster like this comes?' said Professor Rajen Naidoo, the head of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. ' Because the disaster is going to come.' International scientists from the World Weather Attribution group found that human-induced climate change had made the type of extreme rainfall that hit KZN in April 2022 at least twice as likely, and 4-8% more intense. 'We were not seeing a substantive shift in the municipality that recognised how we were going to adapt our infrastructure and keep people safe,' said Erwin. 'It was a very difficult time,' recalled Thapelo Mohapi, general secretary of grassroots movement Abahlali baseMjondolo (meaning 'Residents of the Shacks' in isiZulu). 'The government was nowhere to be found.' Nicole Williams from Springfield said that after the floods flattened formal housing in her area and claimed three lives, residents began waking up. 'It's our constitutional right to expect decent living conditions and proper infrastructure,' she said. 'But if we don't hold them accountable, no one will.' 'We decided civil society could drive such a process … we really started to think through what it would take to keep ourselves safe,' said Erwin. And so at the end of 2023, the Durban Coalition was formed. For 18 months, people from informal settlements to suburban neighbourhoods came together with urban planners, grassroots groups, academics and officials to imagine a just, climate-resilient city built from the ground up. In community centres, boardrooms and libraries, they debated, listened, and co-drafted a bottom-up alternative to conventional planning. The result was a living document, the People's Plan for the Right to Housing in an Age of Climate Change: a 20-page blueprint for the city, built like an integrated development plan, but one that is concise, readable, (published in both English and isiZulu) and puts human rights, climate resilience and social justice at its core. Vusi Zweli, chairperson of Ubunye Bama Hostela, a community group of hostel dwellers in Durban and part of the coalition, said the People's Plan helped residents understand why they were 'always fighting a losing battle' – because key issues weren't included in the city's integrated development plan, and therefore had no budget. 'Many councillors don't understand what's inside the IDP themselves,' he said. 'So you can't expect them to explain it to people on the ground.' With the People's Plan translated into isiZulu and discussed in hostel meetings and workshops, Zweli said residents could finally understand what to expect from government planning. 'We call it the People's Plan – it may sound like we're tossing in a populist term, but I think that phrase captures the process into the final document,' said Naidoo. 'This was written by the people, for the people. It's not a politician telling us what they think is best – it's what we've lived through, and know what we need,' said Williams from Springfield. The People's Plan is built on five key pillars: Human rights-centred housing: The plan recommends that the revised housing strategy, as part of eThekwini's Integrated Development Plan and Housing Sector Plan, must be grounded in human rights principles. That means planning and service delivery should prioritise safety, health and inclusivity. Basic services — water, sanitation, waste removal — must be prioritised and maintained. Inclusive governance: The plan proposes creating a municipal climate change high-level working group, including civil society, business and academia, to coordinate resilience planning. It also calls for a formal multi-stakeholder forum for integrated human settlements. Climate resilience in human settlements: Housing must account for climate risks like heat and flooding. The plan calls for vulnerability mapping, early warning systems and updating strategies like Durban's Resilience Strategy with current research. Support for displaced and vulnerable groups: Targeted responses are required for displaced people, refugees, and residents of informal settlements. The plan recommends tenure security, access to affordable, well-located housing, and support for inner-city social rentals. It calls for inclusive, community-driven rental housing solutions. Implementation and accountability: For the plan to succeed, municipal capacity must be strengthened, which includes increasing capital and operational budgets for housing, filling critical municipal posts and fostering a culture of innovation and responsiveness. Civil society and academia should monitor progress and share knowledge. Unlike many policy documents, the People's Plan is designed with clear institutional reforms and practical steps. It proposes high-level structures, budget allocations and performance indicators tied to measurable outcomes. And it insists on partnerships for monitoring and adapting over time. 'The floods are because of climate change, but the consequences are because of poor management and poor planning,' said Naidoo, whose decades-long experience in occupational and environmental health was crucial in helping communities after the 2022 floods and in creating this document. Vulnerable groups – children, the elderly, pregnant women – bear the brunt, he explained. 'If government doesn't have the skills, then we bring in technical experts. That's the role we want to play as civil society.' For Naidoo, the plan's launch was historic: 'I think for the first time we had representation in a single room from communities across eThekwini. It may not have been like the Freedom Charter, but it followed the same consultative route.' But getting the city to take the plan seriously wasn't straightforward. Initially, things looked hopeful – officials participated in workshops throughout the plan's creation and attended the launch in November 2024, indicating it would inform the next integrated development plan. However, when the draft 2025/2026 integrated development plan came out, the coalition was disappointed. Though improved in structure, it still lacked meaningful climate action. The People's Plan was pushed to an appendix – meaning no budget, no department ownership and no power. Still, the coalition kept on working with the municipality – with Durban coalition members, including GroundWork, sending in official comments during the official public comment period calling for the proper implementation of their plan. In late May 2025, after sustained advocacy, city officials reportedly agreed to formally reference the People's Plan in the integrated development plan and to advocate for its implementation in partnership with civil society. Then, on Thursday, 29 May, while I was speaking to Erwin about the plan's significance, she interrupted excitedly: 'Julia, you're not going to believe this – I just got an email saying the 25/26 IDP was adopted by council today.' Bongumusa Zondo, the chief strategy officer for the eThekwini municipality, whose office oversees the integrated development plan processes, confirmed this, and told Daily Maveric k that, 'the People's Plan is aligned with the Municipality Resilience Strategy, Durban Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.' While those municipal strategies exist, Erwin noted that implementation had lagged. What made the People's Plan different, she explained, was its integrated approach to housing and climate – a shift from siloed thinking. It promotes community-led disaster preparedness and envisions local systems – water, food, energy – that can function independently in crises. Zondo added that the city had included a performance indicator in its 2025/26 Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan, reporting on projects aimed at improving municipal resilience. He said the municipality was strengthening partnerships with civil society to improve neighbourhood-level disaster planning and response. United by similarities 'There's a long history of tension between ratepayers' associations and informal settlement organisations in South Africa, especially in Durban,' said Mohapi. Formal residents often see shack-building as a threat to property values and services, while shack dwellers build near jobs and transport. 'It's always been survival of the fittest,' Mohapi said, 'with the ratepayers feeling they are subsidising the poor when the government isn't doing enough. But in the coalition, we've come to see that we are all victims.' He described how powerful it was to engage with people 'who had never seen us as human beings… to have that audience for the first time was great'. He said it was also important to be heard by academics, 'and write what we are saying and put that in a form of research and then of course put it in a plan that is going to be handed over to government'. The coalition, he said, allowed honest exchange. 'We shared our pain and they shared their views. 'Today, we're friends. No one is undermined because they come from an affluent area. We discuss issues as equals.' Mohapi called the ratepayers' group in the coalition progressive 'because they managed to sit with us, listen to us, and they actually now realise that we are the same and we have the same issues'. Nicole Daniels, founder of Springfield Disaster Management and a former ratepayers' association member, agreed. Though she had long empathised with informal settlements, she said the coalition made shared realities clearer. 'The process opened up space for people from all walks of life to realise we're facing the same problems in eThekwini,' Daniels said. 'Whether you live in formal or informal housing, the challenges – poor infrastructure, unresponsive government – are the same.' In April 2022, mudslides killed three people in Springfield. Though the area has formal housing, it's on a floodplain. Poor maintenance and extreme weather lead to damage, sewage spills, power cuts and water outages. Daniels recalled how their councillor, who comes from an informal settlement, was shocked. 'He said, 'I had no idea people in formal housing have the same problems as us.' ' Zondo from eThekwini municipality said that, 'the People's Plan is very important because it demonstrates the bottom-up approach, organised society taking responsibility to work with their government to address local governance matters for the benefit of all. ' Mohapi, as well as the other collaborators, are happy that their document is finally in the process of being implemented into real policy. 'And I think it's very important to realise that even though we are poor, we can think for ourselves and we can come up with solutions,' said Mohapi. 'And it is only the people who are affected directly by the problem of disaster that can come up with solutions on how to get out of that problem. And the People's Plan is just about that.' DM
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- The Citizen
IFP urges full police probe after deputy chief whip shot dead
The IFP has called on police to leave no stone unturned in their search for the killers of its Deputy Chief Whip Khethamabala Sithole. The Witness reports that Sithole was killed by unknown assailants on Saturday evening in Katlehong, Gauteng. Provincial Secretary Alco Ngobese was also injured in the shooting and is receiving treatment. IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said details around Sithole's death 'are still sketchy at the moment', but the party urged police to find those responsible for the murder. 'It is the IFP's expectation that the law enforcement agencies will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.' He described the IFP's National Council member as 'a hard-working servant leader of the people and our country'. 'We have lost a trusted patriot and a diligent leader of the IFP. 'The IFP is poorer today with his passing, and South Africa has lost a good man who served his country par excellence.' The EFF in Gauteng said the death may have been politically motivated and slammed political intolerance. 'Political killings are unacceptable and undermine our democracy. We therefore condemn all acts of political violence and urge all parties to show maximum tolerance and respect for opposing views. Democracy must be built on peace, not violence.' The Good Party also shared its condolences. 'Violence has no place in our democracy. May his soul rest in peace,' it added. The ANC also paid tribute to Sithole on Sunday. 'The ANC is deeply saddened by the tragic assassination of Honourable Khethamabala Petros 'KP' Sithole, a member of Parliament and deputy chief whip of the IFP. 'We condemn this brutal act and call for urgent intervention by law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice,' said the ANC. The ANC said that Sithole will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation and the transformation of apartheid-era hostels. 'He was a man of dignity and dialogue, and consistently worked to strengthen ANC-IFP relations, often reaching across political divides in pursuit of the greater good. His calm leadership, humility and vision for a just and united South Africa will be sorely missed. 'The ANC extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, the IFP, and all South Africans mourning this profound loss,' said the ANC. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Time is wealth: reclaiming the hours lost to congestion, collapse and inequality
Every day, millions of South Africans lose hours to inefficiency. Image: Leon Lestrade/ Independent Newspapers South Africa's most undervalued resource is not land or minerals; it is time. Every day, millions of South Africans lose hours to inefficiency. Businesses bleed 140 million hours annually due to logistics delays, costing the economy R248 billion. Individual commuters forfeit an average of 144 hours a year stuck in traffic. Six million tons of coal are pushed onto roads due to rail collapse, worsening gridlock and damaging infrastructure. Women, in particular, carry a disproportionate burden, spending 30 percent more time travelling than men, often in unsafe, unreliable systems that restrict their access to work and education. In rural areas alone, residents lose up to 20 hours each week simply trying to access essential services. These are not isolated inconveniences. They are structural inefficiencies with systemic costs. The cumulative national loss is staggering. Yet, within this crisis lies the opportunity to build an economy that runs on time rather than with delays. South Africa urgently requires a coordinated national strategy to address time poverty, anchored in transport reform, port revitalisation, digital public services and inclusive mobility. This is not simply about efficiency; it is a matter of equity, dignity and competitiveness. Stats SA's 2022 Time Use Survey confirms that women in South Africa spend an average of 4.5 hours a day on unpaid travel, compared to 3.5 hours for men—a 30 percent time penalty that compounds daily. Over a year, this is equivalent to 28 full working days lost simply due to inefficient, unsafe and unequal transport access. This stolen time limits women's access to employment, education and entrepreneurship. In South Africa's startup ecosystem alone, transport barriers have been shown to reduce productivity in women-led businesses by up to 10 percent. This burden is compounded in low-income and rural households, where inadequate public services, childcare responsibilities and long distances between essential points of access trap women in a daily cycle of unproductive mobility. Beyond gender, time poverty cuts across all segments. Due to port inefficiencies, businesses lose 120 million hours annually in logistics delays and an additional 20 million. Commuters lose 144 hours in congestion and public service queues cost the population 50 million hours annually. A core contributor to this loss is the collapse of South Africa's freight rail network. With freight volumes down Inequality 24 percent, coal and minerals are being rerouted onto roads, adding an estimated 400 trucks per day to already congested highways. Durban's port delays alone result in R150 billion in lost exports annually, while portside communities like Wentworth lose up to 10 hours per week to traffic-related gridlock. In response, some private sector leaders have stepped up their interventions where the public sector has fallen short. Anglo American's R10 billion investment in revitalising freight corridors marks a significant intervention which is expected to shift millions of tons of coal off the roads and save over 10 million hours annually. Transnet's integration of AI-based freight tracking has led to a 15 percent reduction in shipment delays. Globally, Singapore's Tuas Port offers a powerful benchmark. Its automated systems and AI-driven scheduling have reduced processing time by 40 percent, recovering over 15 million hours yearly. This is the model South Africa must adopt if it intends to remain competitive under the African Continental Free Trade Area. However, digitisation must extend beyond ports and rail to everyday life. An estimated 50 million hours are lost annually in queues at clinics, government offices and payment centres. With only 41 percent internet penetration, many communities are still excluded from time-saving e-services. Yet the success of platforms like WhereIsMyTransport, used by over 500,000 South Africans for real-time route information, demonstrates the potential. eThekwini's digitised municipal services saved an estimated one million hours in 2024 alone. Expanding broadband and localised transport tech can reduce wait times, cut transport costs and enhance productivity at scale. Time reclamation must also be anchored in community solutions. In Khayelitsha, informal ride-sharing networks have reduced average commute times by 20 percent. Cape Town's 2024 pilot of women-only train carriages saw a 40 percent drop in harassment reports, reinforcing the need for gender-sensitive transport planning. Rural e-bike delivery hubs, based on successful models like Rwanda's Zipline, could reduce last-mile travel times by up to 30 percent. Micro-innovations can contribute to a broader inclusion, safety and economic participation ecosystem. While some argue that port automation and AI threaten jobs, international evidence increasingly suggests otherwise. Smart ports create higher-value employment in engineering, digital maintenance and supply chain optimisation, provided that retraining and education investments are made in parallel. This is not an either-or decision. It is an opportunity to build a dual economy where time and technology work in tandem to uplift rather than exclude. Economically, the dividends are substantial. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, reviving rail and port infrastructure could save the country R160 billion annually, with an additional R30 billion in GDP gains from time savings. These infrastructure investments could generate 60,000 new jobs and support over 10,000 in portside communities. Environmentally, coal-to-rail shifts are expected to reduce carbon emissions by at least 35,000 tons annually. With transport contributing 10.8 percent of South Africa's total emissions, time reform is not just an economic or gender issue, it is a climate imperative. Globally, South Africa ranks 101st out of 139 countries on the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index, trailing regional peers like Kenya and Ethiopia. This inefficiency costs more than money; it costs time, credibility and investment. Under AfCFTA, time efficiency is not optional. If South Africa reduced border and port delays by just 30 percent, it could unlock a 20 percent increase in exports, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Failure to act carries broader strategic risks. Global exporters are already diverting supply chains to more efficient East African ports. If South Africa does not modernise its time infrastructure, it risks being bypassed in the very continental trade bloc it helped to shape. Time poverty, if left unchallenged, becomes a risk to national stability, not just a drag on GDP. Solving South Africa's time crisis also accelerates progress on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), where transport, access and inclusion converge. Time is not infinite. It is not neutral. And in South Africa, it is not equally distributed. We must start by reclaiming the hours stolen by dysfunction, delay and neglect to rebuild this nation. Time, like freedom, should not be a privilege. It is the currency of dignity and South Africa must fight to restore it. Nomvula Zeldah Mabuza is a Risk Governance and Compliance Specialist with extensive experience in strategic risk and industrial operations. She holds a Diploma in Business Management (Accounting) from Brunel University, UK, and is an MBA candidate at Henley Business School, South Africa. Nomvula Zeldah Mabuza is a Risk Governance and Compliance Specialist with extensive experience in strategic risk and industrial operations. She holds a Diploma in Business Management (Accounting) from Brunel University, UK, and is an MBA candidate at Henley Business School, South Africa. Image: Supplied BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
