ADDRESSING SOUTH AFRICA'S URGENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CRISIS

SOUTH Africa cannot escape its reputation as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

It's a painful truth we often recite as statistics, hashtags and headlines, until they become memories someone cannot outrun.

Until someone you know breaks down and finally says, "Something happened to me." This is where organisations like the TEARS Foundation step in. Their work doesn't begin or end with a social media campaign or a hotline number; it begins with a simple belief that someone deserves to be listened to, believed, and supported.

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, South Africa is once again confronted with the weight of this crisis. But 16 days is not enough. And those who work with survivors know it too well.

Mara Glennie, the founder of the TEARS Foundation, has been awarded the prestigious Give Back Award at the Women's Business Awards 2025, held on December 2 in the UK.

The TEARS Foundation South Africa is a non-profit organisation that provides free and confidential support services to survivors of rape, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse across the country. And what better time to amplify the essence of the foundation than 16 Days of Activism in South Africa?

Celeste Louw, the general manager of the TEARS Foundation, expressed pride in seeing South African women recognised internationally, reinforcing the strength, resilience, and determination needed to combat GBV in the nation.

In an exclusive conversation, Louw emphasised the pressing issues faced by survivors of GBV in South Africa, highlighting that between October 2024 and October 2025, TEARS received more than 91,000 calls for help.

The calls reveal hidden stories that seldom become arrests, cases, or convictions, she said in conversation with Independent Media Lifestyle.