Al-Qalam 
By Nabeelah Shaikh
With the growing prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in communities across South Africa, the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa (MYMSA) is stepping up to help women in need.
The MYMSA will host a workshop in Chatsworth, Durban, to empower women, educate them about their rights, and provide them with the necessary tools to combat GBV. The event, to be held on Saturday, 7 December, at Dawnridge Primary School, aims to coincide with the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The workshop will be a space for women to share their experiences, seek support, and gain practical knowledge on how to manage issues such as GBV, child abuse, and navigating life as women.
Programme Facilitator Arun Naicker explained that this event marks a significant effort by MYMSA to address the systemic issues of violence against women in the Chatsworth area, a community where many women have felt isolated and under-supported when it comes to their rights and well-being.
“We held a previous Women’s Day event in this community. And during that event, we found that women in the community didn’t have enough information or support structures to assist them with issues of GBV, and managing life as women. They found it difficult to do these things,” she said.
The response from women in the community during the previous event surprised the organisers.
“Many women came forward, eager to share their stories and experiences. We thought what better opportunity than to do a programme for 16 Days of Activism, with one of the objectives being to empower them to take control of their lives and look at GBV with a more critical eye,” Naicker said.
She said a key issue that emerged from earlier discussions was the withdrawal of GBV cases by women who had initially reported abuse.
“This is often due to a lack of support or fear of backlash from the community. One of the things we found was that women would go and lay a charge and then withdraw it,” Naicker said.
The workshop will include group discussions where women will explore the root causes of GBV, the support systems in place, and ways to prevent future violence.
Local organisations, NGOs, shelters, and representatives from the Department of Justice will be present to listen to the women’s findings and provide their expert responses.
Among the speakers at the event are Shireen Soobrathi, a lawyer with extensive experience dealing with GBV cases in the community.
Soobrathi highlighted the lack of awareness in the Chatsworth area regarding the legal rights of women.
“Our community is not educated enough on this. They don’t know what their rights are and what they can do in a situation where they become a victim. GBV is huge in the Chatsworth area, and it’s shocking that we live in a community that is so riddled with it,” said Soobrathi.
She said financial dependence in such communities often leads women to remain in toxic and abusive relationships.
“They tend to just live with the abuse for years and it doesn’t have to be that way. With new laws, women now have protection and can receive financial compensation from their abuser,” said Soobrathi.
Tootsie Francis, a GBV survivor who founded a support office in Chatsworth, will also speak at the event. Having personally overcome her own trauma, Francis is dedicated to helping others find their voice.
“It took me years before I could actually speak up. From there, I opened up the GBV office in the community and I started helping victims,” said Francis.
She emphasised the importance of educating women on the available support services and legal protections. Francis also noted the stigma attached to GBV, where victims often doubt themselves or fear societal judgment.
