The Case of GBV Activism in South Africa – moving toward sustainable activism
Despite South Africa’s progressive legal frameworks, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) remain a national crisis, with approximately seven women killed daily (Mkwananzi & Nathane-Taulela, 2024). This roundtable critically evaluates the efficacy and psychological costs of current activist models. The roundtable has three primary aims. First, it identifies various models of activism within the South African context, including government-led initiatives, digital movements (e.g., #AmINext), and civil society movements. It seeks to question the “NGO-isation” of resistance, which risks transforming advocacy into technocratic service delivery (Britton, 2006; Gouws, 2016). Second, it addresses critical gaps in GBV activism, specifically critiquing how cis-centric feminist movements can exclude Black/trans women and LGBTQI+ individuals (Diko, 2023; Shabalala et al., 2023). Lastly, the discussion explores the dark side of activism, focusing on the emotional taxation experienced by those working in high-trauma social justice sectors (Letamo, 2011; Pepin‐Neff & Wynter, 2019). This session seeks to propose more sustainable and psychologically informed frameworks for GBVF activism in South Africa.