#BelieveHer

Dear Supporters, 

There’s seldom a dull moment in the fight to end gender disparities and empower women. Whether it be through advocating for better legislation, developing feminist jurisprudence through precedent setting cases in court, and advocating for better representation of women throughout South Africa.

Fixing The Country

3 new gender-based violence bills

"Last week parliament passed three gender-based violence bills: the Domestic Violence Bill, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, and the Sexual Offenses and Related Matters Bill; in the latest efforts to change the landscape in terms of how government departments, law enforcement and the courts deal with cases of violence against women. Wise4Africa have been part of the drive to push government to bolster legislation in dealing with gender-based violence." - SABC News

Welcome Sarah Reddy

In our fight to empower women throughout South Africa, our team grows and changes. With this, we are happy to announce our newest team member, Sarah Reddy.

"My name is Sarah Reddy. I am a BA Law graduate from the University of Witwatersrand with majors in Politics and Law. I am currently completing my LLB part time via UNISA.

"My name is Sarah Reddy. I am a BA Law graduate from the University of Witwatersrand with majors in Politics and Law. I am currently completing my LLB part time via UNISA.

I am an activist for human rights, with a huge emphasis on the promotion of women’s rights and safety. I am a proud feminist who has been involved in several efforts to decrease the rates of gender-based violence in South Africa. This includes involvement in GBV protests and petitions, involvement in GBV events and workshops and providing victims of GBV both legal assistance through my internship with WISE4Afrika and non-legal assistance in my daily life as a feminist. My first month as an intern with WISE4AFRIKA has been nothing short of amazing. It is empowering and inspirational working alongside such powerful women. There is no better feeling than justice being served, and it has been extremely fulfilling to be a part of the team delivering justice for women who have faced GBV. It is my duty as a woman in South Africa to ensure that I am playing my part to promote women’s rights and safety and to contribute to the decline of GBVrates and I am grateful that my internship with WISE4AFRIKA has allowed me the opportunity to do such."

Shaping The Culture & Raising Awareness

DNA Backlogs

Unlike many other crimes, the burden to prove that a sexual assault took placeis often placed on the victim. One of the elements of proving a sexual assualt is through the process of collecting and testing a rape kit. In South Africa, the DNA backlog from province to province leaves victims unable to access justice due to SAPS not completing their investigations and state prosecutors not being able to make their cases. Brenda Madumise-Pajibo discusses this injustice on Morning Live. 

She Had A Name

Carin Bester's "She Had A Name" video series is still ongoing. Her work seeks to highlight the prevalence of sexual violence against women in South Africa.