Protection strategies for unrelenting violence against women and girls in rural South Africa
Sekwanele was launched in November 2020 by a group of women in RDP Village, rural Mpumalanga, in response to rampant violence against women and girls, unrelenting sexual assault and the belief that a lot of men have, that women exist for their use and abuse.
The women say “NO MORE. It’s OVER”.
Zingela Ulwazi stands with these women who are doing the hard work of trying to change culture and the dominant mindset, by facilitating self-defense classes for women and girls, many of whom are survivors of sexual assault, some multiple attacks. They’re amazing women, courageous, humble, loving, generous, and we want to help them be safe and thrive in their village AND to change a decaying, entitled, abusive patriarchal system.
How it started…
We had a request from some of the women in RDP Village, Acornhoek, where we run Permaculture Explorers, to help them find a way around the appalling sexual violence that tears through the village.
The women have endured this hardship for decades, but we have seen vividly how girls’ and women’s futures are being demolished by predatory men; the trauma of being stalked, attacked, preyed upon devouring the time and energy needed to apply oneself to tertiary education, enterprise or creative development.
As well as self defence classes, Sekwanele women gather in cirlces to share about their lives. This witnessing of each other brings healing to the pressure of what is held within. The women are also engaged with advocacy, including the SA Police Service, Dept. of Social Development and the Tribal Authority to insist on women’s rights being respected.
Our partnership with Sensei Xania Swart is key to this initiative. Holding two world championship titles and several black belts in Muy Thai, Kickboxing and other martial arts, Xania has designed a training program specifically for South African women to defend themselves called Fox Fitness. The changes in the women participants are profound : increased self esteem, a newfound physical and emotional dignity, connection to other women seeking independence, and a reclamation of their lives.
On the 4th December 2021, 13 of the women did a 3 hour exam for Grade Yellow, and we had 100% pass rate. Women are now training to achieve further grading.
In February 2022, Quentan Marule, Winnie Shongwe and Wisane Mzimba qualified as Level 1 coaches (seen below with Coach Xania). As well as running classes, coaches are receiving business development mentorship from Zingela Ulwazi’s team, so that they can build their income with this valuable offering.
We are now gearing up to train 3 more coaches, so that the training team is robust.
The Department of Social Development has responded to our requests for assistance by offering counselling services at Tintswalo Hospital, which has been extremely helpful. The women have also liaised with SAPS, where they demanded improvement in the way women are treated at the Acornhoek Police Station, which has seen an improvement in line with their rights and nationally agreed upon policies of how Gender Based Violence cases should be dealt with.
The Solidarity Fund supported the project’s first year, from March 2021 to April 2022, enabling us to run fortnightly self defence classes and some of the advocacy work. We are currently fundraising to run this program for the coming 2 years, to train more coaches so that we can teach this work in schools and to fund coaches’ business training and mentoring.
Would you like to partner with us or contribute to this potent work?
We are registered as a Public Benefit Organisation in South Africa, enabling Section 18A tax deductions for donations. We can also receive donations in the US through our partner organisation Seeds of Light, who has 501c3 (non-profit) status, and can issue tax exemption certificates, so please contact us if you would like to participate utilising these benefits.
If you would personally like to make a donation, please click on the DONATE button on this page, and mark your contribution ‘Self Defense’. Please inbox or email me (stella@zingelaulwazi.org.za) if you can connect us to potential funders to extend our work. WOMANDLA !!
I was easily provoked, but now I can manage my anger and I have made a commitment to be peaceful. I used to complain about my health; since joining Sekwanele I feel better, I do not get tired even when I walk to my work. What I am learning is valuable to my work, because I am working with orphaned children, and I will be able to teach them the self defence techniques and to be confident individuals. Thoko
Sekwanele is a project supported by a number of different organisations, to whom we extend our warmest gratitude.
