Our CEO, Phinah Kodisang recently spoke to eNCA on the persistent crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa following the release of the latest SAPS crime statistics. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for communities to become actively involved in preventing violence, reporting abuse, and supporting survivors, particularly as many GBV incidents continue to occur within homes and private spaces. Kodisang emphasised that ending GBVF requires collective action from families, communities, law enforcement, and society as a whole.
Soul City Institute commends the swift response by the Eastern Cape Department of Education following serious allegations of sexual abuse involving a teacher and learner at Nozuko Senior Secondary School. While the rapid intervention and commitment to investigate are welcomed, the incident highlights ongoing systemic failures in safeguarding children within educational spaces. As Child Protection Month is observed, Soul City Institute stresses that child protection must be proactive rather than reactive. We call for stronger vetting systems, regular safeguarding audits, accessible reporting mechanisms, and survivor-centred responses to ensure learners are protected at all times. Schools must remain safe spaces where children’s rights, dignity, and safety are upheld without compromise.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – 5 May 2026 – This week, as the world marks International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May), Soul City Institute (SCI) proudly pays tribute to the unsung heroes on the frontline of women's and young people's health: midwives, nurses, and Community Health Workers (CHWs).
A Workers’ Day call to action highlighting how economic justice remains the missing link in South Africa’s freedom, with a focus on community-based and SRHR workers.
Soul City Institute (SCI) welcomes the recent findings published in the South African Medical Journal, which report a 16% overall decline in child and adolescent pregnancies between April 2021 and March 2025, and a significant 40% reduction among girls aged 10 to 14. This progress reflects the impact of sustained, multi-sectoral interventions aimed at strengthening prevention, protection, and access to information and services for children and adolescents.
Phinah Kodisang
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27 Apr, 2026
Thirty-two years later, the paradox is stark: South Africa has some of the most robust legislation protecting women and girls - the Domestic Violence Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan.
Our FLAC Fellow from Limpopo, Ankonisaho Bhakaha, recently attended a transformative workshop focused on intellectual disability awareness, inclusion, and equal treatment. The experience offered deep learning, practical skills development, and a powerful reminder of what true inclusion looks like in action.
The Soul City Institute for Social Justice (SCI) welcomes today’s landmark finding by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge is guilty of gross misconduct following a sexual harassment investigation.
Communities Must Become the Frontline in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
