Soweto: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has called on churches to take a firm stand against gender-based violence (GBV), child abuse, discrimination, and other forms of injustice. Letsike made the call while addressing the Central District Young Women's Manyano 21st Annual Convention in Soweto.
According to South African Government News Agency, Letsike emphasized the need for churches to find their voice against gender-based violence, much like they did during the era of racial oppression. She highlighted the importance of transforming church halls into safe spaces for survivors of abuse and injustice. Letsike noted that some of the most challenging issues facing society today are not geographical but exist within homes, communities, and even churches. These issues include violence against women, child abuse, poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and the isolation experienced by many individuals.
Women entering churches may carry burdens such as unemployment, single parenthood, disability, financial dependence on an abusive partner, or trauma from sexual violence. Letsike stressed that these realities persist beyond the confines of religious rituals. She warned against using forgiveness as a means to shield perpetrators from accountability, stating, "Forgiveness cannot be manipulated into immunity from accountability." Survivors often face additional challenges in persuading their communities to believe their experiences, and for those with disabilities, these challenges can be even greater due to their dependency on others for basic needs.
Letsike called for the inclusion and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, asserting that their dignity should be equally respected. She pointed out that lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women face the same economic pressures and violence as other women, alongside discrimination based on their identity. Equality, she emphasized, should not depend on factors such as sex, disability, sexual orientation, or race.
Faith communities, according to Letsike, should pair prayer with action and service, echoing the mission of the Young Women's Manyano as a prayer and service union. While government policies and institutions, such as the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, are in place to address these issues, Letsike stressed that success also relies on the efforts of homes, churches, schools, and communities.
The Deputy Minister urged churches to ensure that spiritual practices do not replace the need for legal and social accountability. She highlighted the importance of creating environments where abuse can be disclosed without fear, promoting leadership roles for persons with disabilities, and challenging homophobia and the exclusion of LGBTI individuals.
Reflecting on historical movements like the 1956 Women's March and the 1976 Student Uprising, Letsike encouraged South Africans to consider what courage requires of them today, as they navigate the "unmapped territory" of confronting abuse and promoting justice in their communities.
