‘Where are the men?’: Springboks, sports stars criticised over GBV silence
· The South African
The Springboks, as well as other national sports teams and their respective captains – albeit Siya Kolisi – have been called out over their lack of commentary about the gender-based violence endemic. This follows the gruesome discovery of nine bodies of women who had been sexually assaulted and murdered in and around the Kempton Park area.
SPRINGBOKS, SPORTS TEAMS CALLED OUT OVER GBV SILENCE
Speaking in a video posted on Facebook, radio personality Cindy Poluta questioned why South African men had remained largely silent in the fight against GBV.
Visit esporist.com for more information.
She said: “The majority of the people posting the outrage are women….Yes, men are reposting stuff, but no one is actively speaking out against it. Nobody is making a video saying they are enraged by it
Although commending Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, she admonished the national team, and others like Bafana, Proteas, and top PSL clubs for not standing in solidarity.
She continued: “There is absolutely nothing there speaking about the crisis in our country. You have the biggest reach, sports defines…ignites…and unites a nation.
“It’s been drummed into our heads ‘No DNA, just RSA’. But yet our women are dying, and the platforms with the biggest reach to men are silent. No outcry…until it’s your mother that went for a run, or your sister that went to a Post Office to collect something and never came back.
“The problem in our country is not the women, the problem is the men and the lack of your manhood to speak up individually and personally against it”.
SIYA AND CHESLIN STAND UP
Through their respective foundations, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and player Cheslin Kolbe have publicly condemned GBV and called for authorities to take action.
Kolbe’s foundation shared: “Every statistic represents a name, a family, a life interrupted by violence that should never have happened. South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis isn’t an abstract problem, but it’s daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends who deserve to move through the world without fear.
“We can’t keep placing the burden of safety on women alone. It’s time to stop asking women to be careful, and start demanding that South Africa be safer”.
The Kolisi Foundation added, “A society is not truly free when women require extraordinary courage to do ordinary things. This moment requires justice. But our concern cannot end when the headlines move on.
The organisation pledged to continue its work in advocating for prevention, accountability, safer communities, as well as supporting women and girls to live with dignity, safety and freedom.