A journey of resilience, connection and celebration for women in Ward 100

Women’s Day, as celebrated by Ward 100 on August 9, charted a powerful narrative. From personal resilience to communal solidarity and hopeful celebration, women in the far east of Pretoria reclaimed space and purpose.

The event began on an empowering note with the Resilient You session led by Gontse Richli. She reminded women that resilience is not about never falling, it’s about rising every single time.

Her words set a tone of courage and self-leadership, with many participants leaving with renewed determination to pursue personal and community goals.

At the Viva Connect gathering in Cullinan, the Viva Choir’s performance opened the event. Viva CEO Meleney Bough-Kriel delivered a sobering address on the reality of GBV in SA, highlighting the chilling statistic of 1 000 women’s bodies found every three months.

“This is not just a number. It is a painful truth that we must confront together,” Bough-Kriel said.

In response to this crisis, Viva Connect launched a petition demanding urgent action from the Gauteng Provincial Government to strengthen GBV prevention, ensure faster case resolutions and expand victim support services.

This petition will be delivered to the Gauteng Legislature and submitted to the National Assembly through an MPL to ensure the call for change is heard at provincial and national levels. Guest speaker Clr Johannes Bekker reinforced the call for action.

“Women are the backbone of our communities. Your courage in the face of hardship inspires us all. As leaders, we must ensure every woman in our community is safe, supported and able to thrive. This is not just your fight; it is our fight together,” Bekker said.

The day closed with a formal dinner hosted by the Semami Women Organisation.

Bekker said, “You are shining diamonds, dressed to impress, and it makes me proud to be here with you. Today is about more than celebrating; it’s about recognising your power to lead, shape the future and be unapologetically yourself.”

Bekker told the Streeknews that during the year ending March 2024, SAPS recorded 5 578 women and 1 656 children murdered, underscoring the scale of femicide and violence against children in SA.

While the SAPS reported a 3.3% drop in rapes and a 3.2% drop in attempted sexual offences in quarter three 2024 (October to December), the numbers remain troubling.

The National GBV Prevalence Study (2024) by the Human Sciences Research Council found that 35.5% of black SA women have experienced physical violence and that 14.9% of cohabiting but unmarried women experienced sexual violence, compared to 8.5% of married women.

“These figures show that while certain categories of crimes against women are decreasing, the broader crisis of GBVF continues to devastate communities across the country,” Bekker also said.

“The petition started at Viva Connect is one more step toward turning words into action, ensuring the fight against GBV is carried from the stage into the provincial legislature and the national parliament, where systemic change can take root,” Bekker added.

“Ward 100 stands in solidarity, not just in celebration, but in resolve,” Bekker concluded.