SA: No reconciliation without justice for women

16 December, 2024: Today is Reconciliation Day in South Africa—a day meant to symbolise healing, unity, and the promise of a better future. This day comes just after the Sixteen Days of Activism on Gender Violence, that runs from 25 November (International Day of No Violence Against Women) to 10 December, Human Rights Day.

Reconciliation is a positive note on which to end this sombre reflection on the gross violation of women’s rights that continues with impunity thirty years into our democracy. But as we pause to reflect, I cannot help but feel the weight of unanswered questions and unresolved pain. How can we truly reconcile when women are buried without justice and children disappear without answers?

As a GBV survivor, activist, and advocate for human rights, this day brings a storm of emotions. I want to believe in its purpose, yet the names of two individuals, Namhla Mtwa and Joslin Smith, haunt me. Their stories are not just theirs—they are ours. They represent the fractures in our society that no reconciliation can mend until we address them.

Namhla Mtwa a 35-year-old woman from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, had her life cut short by a hail of bullets in her own driveway in 2022. Her death was the culmination of years of documented abuse. We all saw the evidence—heartbreaking photos of her bruised body, harrowing text messages where she begged for mercy, and horrifying voice notes that laid bare her suffering.

For a moment, South Africa was enraged. Her name became a rallying cry, and the hashtags, marches, and speeches filled us with hope that her death would not be in vain. But where is that energy now? Namhla’s alleged abuser walks free, and her cries for justice have faded into the background noise of a nation overwhelmed by violence.

The Voice and Choice Barometer GBV chapter, a crucial tool for assessing gender justice, highlights this systemic failure. It reveals that despite progress in policies, enforcement remains alarmingly inadequate. Namhla’s case exemplifies the dangerous gap between intention and action. Her story should not be forgotten. It should be a reminder of what we must change.

On the other side of this tragedy lies 10-year-old Joslin Smith, who vanished from her home in Middlepos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast of South Africa. A child, full of potential, now lost to an unimaginable fate. As her family and the community at large searches desperately for answers, our society continues with life as usual, as though her disappearance is just another statistic.

The Voice and Choice Barometer emphasises the importance of protecting our children’s rights, yet cases like Joslin’s reveal the gaping holes in our societal priorities. How do we call ourselves a reconciled nation when our youngest and most vulnerable can vanish without a trace?

Today, as we speak of unity and healing, we must confront the truth: We are dealing with backlash against justice for women and children in South Africa. This backlash is quiet but insidious, manifesting in delayed investigations, systemic failures, and societal apathy. Namhla’s case is a stark example of a justice system that fails to hold perpetrators accountable. Joslin’s disappearance is a glaring sign of how we neglect the safety of our children.

For those of us who dare to speak out, the backlash is personal. I know what it’s like to face ridicule, to be told to stay silent, and to fight a system that seems indifferent to our pain. But I also know the power of persistence.

Reconciliation Day must be more than words. It must be a call to action, a commitment to healing the wounds of our nation by confronting the violence that festers within it. Today, as we remember Namhla Mtwa and Joslin Smith, let us ensure their names are not just etched in tragedy but in the progress, we fight for every day.

So today, I only have this to ask:

To the Government of National Unity: Ensure implementation of GBV policies and legislation;  action the recommendations of the Voice and Choice Barometer, to strengthen accountability, enforce GBV laws, and prioritise child safety.

To law enforcement: monitor Namhla’s case with urgency and intensify the search for Joslin and every missing child.

To civil society, let us continue to mobilise our communities to keep the names of Namhla and Joslin alive. Let us demand justice, not just for them, but for all women and children in South Africa. Don’t let these stories fade. Use your voice. Share these stories. Advocate for change.

Until then, reconciliation is incomplete.

(Zintle Khobeni de Lange is a WOSSO fellow).