‘GBV must not be tolerated’: Dlamini-Zuma urges women to prioritise survival over societal expectations
Dlamini-Zuma implored women to walk away from abusive marriages rather than endure domestic violence pain.
ANC veteran and former Cabinet Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma recently urged women to "walk away" from abusive marriages, urging them to prioritize survival over societal expectations. Speaking at a Johannesburg event supporting the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), the 77-year-old politician shared her personal experiences and those of survivors at the event.
Dlamini-Zuma recounted the harrowing story of Thembi Maphanga, known as Ms T, a burn survivor and GBV activist who endured years of abuse from her husband. In 2010, her husband locked her and their two-year-old twins in a room, doused them with petrol, and set them alight. Ms T survived the inferno, but her face was permanently disfigured, and her two-year-old twins died as a result of the attack.
Dlamini-Zuma emphasized that abuse often begins in childhood and warned that societal tolerance of violence is a root cause. She condemned law enforcement for blaming rape victims for their clothing and called for urgent re-education of police officers and communities to address this issue. Activist Sihle Sibisi recounted being trafficked to Nigeria and abused at a church run by the late evangelist TB Joshua, where she endured four years of sexual, emotional, and psychological torment.
She later led the Kwanele Foundation to support survivors and break the silence around abuse in religious institutions.
The event also highlighted the intersection of race, gender, and violence through the story of Mmamaphuleng Manamela, who grew up ostracised by both her black and white communities due to her mixed heritage. Her abusive marriage brought further pain, as her husband repeatedly molested her, claiming it was his "right" as her husband.
Despite the prejudice she faced, Manamela found healing and support in her shared experiences with her husband, Martin Manamela. Dlamini-Zuma's message was clear: women must not endure abuse in silence, and communities must confront violence at its roots.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
