The City of Johannesburg officially launched its 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign on 28 November 2025 at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre, in an event marked by powerful storytelling, partnership, and a renewed commitment to combating gender-based violence.

The launch was jointly led by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, and the MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services (GCSS), Cllr Sithembiso Zungu.

The event was attended by employees from over 23 departments and municipal entities, together with external partners including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Old Mutual, POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse), the Commission for Gender Equality, Not In My Name Movement, and the Men and Boys Organisation. The presence of these stakeholders reaffirmed a collective resolve to tackle one of the country’s deepest social crises.

Delivering her address under the theme “Pain to Power: Journey Toward Healing and Advocacy – Breaking the Silence”, Cllr Arnolds moved the audience with a deeply personal and courageous reflection on her own journey as a survivor. Drawing from lived experience, she emphasised the life-saving power of speaking out.

“If I did not speak out, I would not be alive today. If I did not speak out, I would never have stepped into leadership, and I would not be standing here as Speaker of Council. Speaking out opened my future and transformed my pain into purpose,” she said.

Cllr Arnolds reminded attendees that the fight against GBV cannot be restricted to an annual campaign window. “We cannot wait for the 16 Days of Activism to care about women’s safety. Violence does not follow a calendar. Our responsibility is daily – continuous, urgent, and deeply personal. Our vigilance cannot be seasonal.”

MMC Zungu commended the collaboration between City departments, labour unions, external partners, and civil society organisations, noting that an effective response to GBV requires coordinated action across institutions, communities, and sectors.

The programme included presentations, testimonies, and educational engagements – with partners such as SAPS, POWA, and Not In My Name echoing the importance of early intervention, survivor support, and proactive prevention strategies – particularly in communities where poverty, unemployment, and inequality increase vulnerability to violence.

Written by Vusi Gumbi