16/10/2026
PRESS ALERT 16 October 2026, 9am - Campaign to Scrap the Labour Law Amendments Bill to march tomorrow in Sasolburg, Kempton Park and Cape Town against Gender Based Violence and Femicide (the marches are on Saturday 17 October)
_*CONTACT PEOPLE:*_
CAPE TOWN: Nomacebo Mbayo on 060 676 4795 or Hlubikazi Mayekiso on 073 286 5960;
SASOLBURG: Lavo Moncho on 076 813 5498 or Olwabo Vuna on 071 946 1580;
KEMPTON PARK: Constance Masekwameng on 060 872 4291 or Maggie Mthombeni on 078 154 1827.
The Campaign, made up of 42 social movements from across the country, including many women’s and GBVF movements, is intensifying the working class struggle against GBVF tomorrow.
We will hold marches against the killing of women in Cape Town, Sasolburg and Kempton Park on 17 October 2026.
In Kempton Park, Gauteng, protesters will gather at 9.30am in the park next to Kempton Park Civic Centre, at Zuurfontein and Pretoria roads.
In Cape Town, protesters will gather at 10am at 209 Beach Road, Sea Point, opposite the SABC.
In Sasolburg, Free State, protesters will meet at 8am in the parking area opposite Child Welfare at the Lusa circle before marching to Sasolburg Police Station.
Our members are outraged about the killings in Ekurhuleni and across the country and demand that the South African state act decisively to deal with the scourge of gender-based-violence and femicide.
Our experience with the failed ANC-DA government informs us that once the public storm over the Ekurhuleni killings passes the killings will become another statistic. GBV-F has its roots in the capitalist nature of society and the prevalence of patriarchy. Capitalism and patriarchy re-enforce each other.
Working class women are caught up in a vicious cycle of cheap labour. Employment nowadays is precarious, informal, insecure and lowly paid as EPWP, CHW and other poorly paid, part time roles. Sexual harassment is rampant in these forms of employment where s*xual favours are demanded in exchange for jobs. They are forced to sleep with managers and supervisors in order to feed their families.
Bosses do not provide transport for women who work shifts. Women must find their own way to and from work either early in the morning or late at night, sometimes walking home alone through deserted areas at 3am! The bosses do not care about the safety of women workers.
Millions of working class women are unemployed. To survive, unemployed women rely on the R370 SRD grant, child grants, on their grandparents’ Sassa pension or their spouses’ wages. Women are saddled with the burden of caring for children, families and keeping the household together and therefore they remain in abusive relationships.
The perpetrators of the brutal killings in Ekurhuleni must be arrested and imprisoned. The families of the murdered women must have justice. The South African police must do their work and speed-up the investigations. The austerity cuts in social expenditure have led to the under-resourcing of police stations and courts and many abusers and killers of women have not been brought to justice.
The killings in Ekurhuleni and other areas must not become another statistic. The insatiable need for cheap labour and a system that regards working class women as a source of cheap labour must be challenged.
Fighting against GBV-F means doing away with prejudices, customs, and practices that perpetuates women’s oppression, it means doing away with patriarchy.
Fighting against GBV-F means struggling against capitalism and its state.
We demand:
* Permanent jobs for women now on at least a living wage: All ongoing jobs must be made permanent.
* Free Public Transport: for all women at all times of day and night now!
* An end to s*x for jobs practices: by the private sector and government bosses!
* Practical support for women: Shelters, emergency financial assistance, safe housing, childcare and free legal assistance.
* Accountability in investigations: Named investigators and family liaison contacts so families can obtain updates and follow progress.
A written response within seven days, addressing each demand and stating what action will be taken.
For comment, call:
CAPE TOWN: Nomacebo Mbayo on 060 676 4795 or Hlubikazi Mayekiso on 073 286 5960;
SASOLBURG: Lavo Moncho on 076 813 5498 or Olwabo Vuna on 071 946 1580;
KEMPTON PARK: Constance Masekwameng on 060 872 4291 or Maggie Mthombeni on 078 154 1827.
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