‘W’ in Women Stands for Warrior: A Tribute to South African Women
By Aaliyah Abrahams
I have met warriors on virtually every street in South Africa. This land, breathtakingly beautiful and globally revered for its rich history, simultaneously carries a dark, systemic burden. It continues to report some of the most alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in the world.
The reality of being a woman in South Africa means carrying a silent, pervasive hyper-vigilance. Millions of girls grow up experiencing the chill of fear when doing something as simple as playing in a public park, walking into a workplace, or sitting inside their own homes. When we look strictly at the numbers, we are dealing with an active national disaster.
My journey through this landscape is deeply personal. Growing up as a foster child, I moved constantly from one community to another. I lived on the sprawling farms of Johannesburg, navigated the quiet streets of Kimberley, and walked through the vibrant neighbourhoods of Cape Town. In every single one of those places, I found warriors in the ordinary women who took me in, guided me, and survived.
Source: Aaliyah Abrahams
The statistics are devastating. South Africa’s femicide rate remains roughly five times the global average. According to police and advocacy tracking data, over 5,500 women are murdered annually, averaging 15 women every single day. Furthermore, nearly half of all reported assaults occur behind closed doors, committed in spaces meant to be sanctuaries, by people known to the victims.
Yet, the purpose of this piece is to remind South Africa of the breath-taking resilience and courage of its women. Across the country, survivors are actively shifting their realities, moving firmly from “victim” to Warrior. This spirit is alive in grassroots initiatives like Moms Who Care and the collective national momentum of civil movements like Women For Change.
We saw this power unified on a historic scale during the G20 Women’s Shutdown. By withdrawing all paid and unpaid labour, halting economic spending, and standing in a powerful 15-minute national standstill, South African women sent an undeniable message to global leaders: a nation cannot speak of economic growth and progress while it buries a woman every few hours.
This act of collective refusal effectively forced the state to officially recognize our reality as a national disaster. As we observe Women’s Month, we must honour their sacrifices by transitioning from mere awareness to aggressive structural intervention. We can achieve this by targeting four vital pillars:
- Shifting the Burden: Engage men and boys to challenge toxic peer behaviours.
- Protecting the Vulnerable: Build targeted safety nets for young girls leaving foster care.
- Demanding Accountability: Deliver swifter, uncompromising conviction rates for perpetrators.
- Fostering Liberation: Provide vocational training and micro-grants to break financial dependency.
South African women have carried the weight of fear for generations, meeting it with a bravery that commands respect. They are warriors. But it is time for the nation to fight alongside them, creating a world where they no longer have to fight just to survive.
Emergency & Supportive Contacts (SA)
- GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428 (Toll-Free, 24/7)
- Women for Change Support Line: 069 360 8296
- Moms Who Care: 082 255 7062
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