Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi has sparked a conversation around the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV), asking when will enough be enough.
Tunzi, ahead of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, reflected on some of the deaths that have sent shock waves across the world. This includes the death of Tshegofatso Pule, the pregnant 28-year-old who was found stabbed and hanging from a tree in Gauteng.
16 Days of Activism is a UN campaign for no violence against women and children. It takes place annually from November 25 (international day of no violence against women) to December 10 (international human rights day).
“16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is fast approaching and I am reminded of Ingrid Escamilla, who was skinned and disembowelled in Mexico,” said Tunzi.
“I am reminded of Tshegofatso Pule, who was stabbed and hung on a tree in SA. These are only two of thousands of women.”
16 Days of Activism against Gender Based violence is fast approaching and I am reminded of Ingrid Escamilla who was skinned and disemboweled in Mexico. I am reminded of Tshegofatso Pule who was stabbed and hung on a tree in South Africa. These are only 2 of thousands of women.
— Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) October 28, 2020
Tunzi asked when will enough be enough and what it will take for women to live free from GBV.
“Every year we plead, we cry and we march to keep our lives - a human right. So I ask: is it our souls that you want or a world where no woman exists? Answer me that,” she said.
Every year we plead, we cry and we march to keep our lives; a human right. So I ask..Is it our souls that you want or a world where no woman exists. Answer me that.
— Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) October 28, 2020
Tunzi is an ambassador against GBV on the African continent. She was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year when he was appointed as the chairperson of the AU.
Tunzi's ongoing work against GBV started back in August 2019, when she was crowned Miss SA.
The night she was crowned, Tunzi said: “We have absolutely no reason to keep smiling because the country's women are dying every day and mostly people are doing nothing about it. It is not up to us; it’s up to perpetrators to start doing right.”
On social media, many women weighed in on Tunzi's statement. Here is what they had to say:
We have cried, and created hashtags, marched, pleaded with men, literally did everything we can but they don't stop, they won't stop until they want to stop. It hurts that my life expectancy hangs in the hands of men. 💔💔💔
— Tshimologo 🌻✨ (@Tshintshi_ntsh) October 28, 2020
In South Africa it should actually be 365 days of activism against gender based violence. Coz everyday somwhere in South Africa women and children r being raped or killed. #JusticeForMaksAndTed#JusticeforMakoena#Justiceforallwomen
— African Khaleesi (@jacky_mmaphuti) October 28, 2020
It's scary being a woman in this country, imagine fearing your existence, fearing your appearance, fearing that being a woman in SA means victim, the worst part will be that all that we fear is eternity 😭😭, hear us cry dear brothers baphi onembeza?
— Xoli (@Xoli02524966) October 28, 2020
Like what our new miss south africa said, we need to tackle the mind, that's where the problem is
— Tshianeo (@kutamatshianeo) October 28, 2020
If you listed all the names it might take you years to finish pic.twitter.com/E8MmK4S0mm
— the bank of tyra (@RichRakgadi) October 28, 2020
When men starts to rebuke each other, and train the boy child right, just as you said, we would see change. Most mothers be harsh on the girls and soft on the boys, so they grow of to be entitle men.
— Azizi de Artist🔥😎 (@AlyceMcgarrel) October 28, 2020
