In the mosaic of South African society, faith is the mortar bonding together the stones of our diverse communities. Yet within the hallowed halls of our sacred spaces, a silent scourge festers – gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Our faith communities, pillars of refuge and morality, have inadvertently become sanctuaries of silence, sometimes complicit in the very violence they preach against.
The recent murder of Makgotso Sindiswa Khoza, reportedly by her pastor husband on 5 November, horrifies communities valuing life’s sanctity and marriage vows. As the Faith Action to End GBV Collective grapples with this atrocity, we face a disturbing paradox: a Gospel preacher, sworn to spread love and peace, is accused of heinous betrayal. This grim reality urges us to challenge our passivity and drive change.
Gender-based violence is not just an affront to the sanctity of life; it is a flagrant violation of the divine principles that undergird our faiths. Our holy texts, across religions, espouse love, compassion, and the intrinsic dignity of every individual. Yet, in practice, these texts have been misinterpreted or weaponised to justify patriarchy, oppression, and even violence.
The harrowing statistics from the South African Police Service – 10,512 women raped, 1,485 attempted murders, 969 killed, and over 15,000 assaulted in early 2023 – are more than numbers. They indict a society in crisis. More damning, these figures understate the true magnitude, as many incidents go unreported. Beneath these numbers lie our sisters’, boys’, mothers’, and daughters’ unspoken pains.
Why does this continue? Faith communities influence over 85% of South Africans professing religious beliefs, per StatsSA General Household Surveys. We must scrutinise faith’s role in perpetuating GBVF. Often, cultural interpretations of doctrine uphold patriarchal norms, casting women into subservient roles and fostering environments where abuse is overlooked or excused. Our silence and failure to challenge these interpretations make us complicit.
This complicity, subtly woven into religious education, sermons, and community interactions, becomes evident when we protect an institution’s image over the vulnerable’s safety and dignity, perpetuating violence. Emphasising forgiveness without demanding accountability leaves victims’ wounds festering silently.
The faith community’s reluctance to tackle GBVF stems from deep historical roots. Apartheid, colonialism, and patriarchal dominance left a legacy of trauma, manifesting in destructive patterns. This history, depriving many of dignity and self-respect, reflects our past’s structural violence. Faith leaders must progress from acknowledgment to action.
Our call to action begins by reclaiming our sacred texts’ narrative, advocating interpretations that promote equality and justice. For Christians, the Bible’s “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence” (Psalm 11:5) highlights God’s detestation of violence, aiding faith leaders against GBVF.
We must amplify texts emphasising the divine mandate of love and respect for all genders. For Muslims, Surah Al-Hujurat, the Quran’s 49th chapter, proclaims: “O mankind, we created you from male and female, made you peoples and tribes to know one another. The most noble in Allah’s sight is the most righteous. Allah is Knowing and Acquainted” (Quran, 49:13).
This verse underscores the idea that all of humanity is from a single origin and that the diversity of gender, as well as peoples and tribes, is a means to foster understanding and respect among individuals. It places the greatest honour not in gender, race, or nationality but in righteousness and piety, a universal call to justice and equality that transcends and includes all forms of human diversity. Faith leaders must be at the forefront of normalising healthy expressions of emotion and dismantling the toxic masculinity that fuels GBVF.
Creating safe spaces for dialogue and healing within our communities is critical. We must provide platforms where survivors are heard, and their stories are acknowledged without judgement or retribution. We need to foster a culture that does not stigmatise survivors but offers them the support and resources needed for healing.
Equally important is the call for accountability. Religious institutions should set an example by not shielding perpetrators or minimising their actions. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done within our congregations. Holding perpetrators accountable sends a powerful message that GBVF will not be tolerated.
The need for structural change within our faith communities cannot be overstated. Women must be included in leadership positions, not merely as figureheads but as equal partners in decision-making. They bring invaluable perspectives that can reshape the dynamics of our communities, fostering environments where GBVF is actively combated.
Our faith-based initiatives against GBVF require synergy among religious organisations, government, NGOs, and civil society, forming a united front against violence. We must pool resources and share best practices to strengthen our collective response.
The Interfaith campaign by the Faith Action to End GBV transcends a campaign; it’s a profound clarion call to rouse our faith communities’ bedrock, reigniting the spirit of Ubuntu. It’s an entreaty to foster a new peace ethos, rooted in our religious beliefs. This is our ethical mandate to become feminists. Echoing His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, a feminist and advocate for peace, non-violence, and compassion: “I call myself a feminist. Isn’t that what you call someone who fights for women’s rights?” — Dalai Lama XIV. This stance aligns with our goal to eradicate gender-based violence and femicide.
As we invite you to join this movement, reflect on our roles in perpetuating or breaking silence. The choice is stark; consequences are real. We cannot afford to be silent witnesses to our shared human dignity’s desecration. Echoing the Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Choose wisely and act decisively.
Bhekisisa Mncube is an award-winning South African journalist, writer and author.