Ekurhuleni killings: The South African men trying to end violence against women

Kgomotso Mathekga, 30, openly shares his experiences with violence against women during a gathering aimed at reducing such incidents in South Africa. "I witness men hitting women all the time," he states, adding, "Especially when they are both drunk." Mathekga reflects on his past actions, admitting, "I once had an argument with my girlfriend, and I grabbed and slapped her."

The meeting takes place in a narrow street of Johannesburg's Organic Market, an informal settlement near Alexandra township. Mathekga expresses regret, saying, "Now I feel pain. We broke up and I no longer see my child. I feel like I've contributed to the problems in South Africa, instead of being the gentleman that I know I am."

Nearby, a group of men gathers at a tavern, forming a circle as Itumeleng Stephen Tamaga, known as Bra Steve, leads the discussion. "We are men!" he proclaims, raising his fist, as the group claps and cheers. Bra Steve, the local organizer of Father A Nation, a non-profit focused on promoting positive masculinity, emphasizes the need to combat gender-based violence and femicide.

This meeting occurs amid heightened concern over violence against women in South Africa, particularly following the discovery of 12 women's bodies over three months in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg. This has reignited discussions about the ongoing crisis of violence against women in the country. Bra Steve asserts, "We must restore dignity to the men around here."