Monday, 10 August 2026

Clementine Mabena said Women’s Day has been watered down, arguing South Africa still lacks real action on gender-based violence, women’s leadership, the pay gap and support for victims.

Faiza Banda said women have made constitutional gains, but GBV remains a dark cloud; she called for more GBV courts, police training, and education for boys and men starting at home and school.

The discussion on local politics focused on councillors being targets of violence ahead of elections, with the view that weak protection, service-delivery anger and the struggle for power are fuelling the killings.

The episode’s centrepiece was a Women’s Day reflection that contrasted the 1956 marchers with current public figures under scrutiny, while insisting the legacy of those women was access, accountability and sacrifice.