Johannesburg, South Africa – Led by the National Department of Health (NDoH) and supported by SIOC-CDT through the Karabelo GBVF response programme, Soul City Institute (SCI) will join government departments, civil society organisations, development partners, healthcare professionals, social workers, human rights advocates, and representatives of sex worker-led organisations at the Dialogue on Human Rights, Health, Safety, Access to Services, and Economic Empowerment of Sex Workers, taking place on 16 July 2026 in Thabazimbi, Limpopo.
Are you a young woman who envisions a more just and equitable world? Do you long to be part of a sisterhood of changemakers committed to dismantling patriarchy and advancing feminist leadership? Soul City Institute for Social Justice invites you to join Cohort 3 of the FLAC Fellowship.
The Soul City Institute welcomes and supports the call by South Africa's Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga, MP, for Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to accelerate action towards achieving gender equality, women's empowerment, and the eradication of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
For many South Africans, elections have become synonymous with promises that are never fulfilled. Communities continue to grapple with unreliable service delivery, unsafe neighbourhoods, unemployment, inadequate housing, failing infrastructure, and limited opportunities for young people. Too often, election campaigns are filled with slogans and commitments that disappear once votes have been counted.
Thabiso B. Mathibedi
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05 Jun, 2026
The final day of the conference brought together final abstract presentations, partner reflections and commitments, and youth-led recommendations that charted a path forward for strengthening health and development interventions across the region. A recurring theme throughout the day was the importance of meaningful youth participation. Young people called for greater inclusion in decision-making structures, active involvement in budgeting and policy formulation processes, and increased use of digital platforms to improve access, engagement, and accountability.
The Soul City Institute is taking an important step toward strengthening its institutional memory, improving collaboration, and deepening relationships across its broad network of partners, practitioners, and community stakeholders. As part of this process, SCI is currently building a comprehensive database of all individuals and organisations who have worked with, supported, or engaged with the institute over the years. This initiative is not just an administrative exercise, it is a strategic investment in connection, continuity, and collective impact.
Soul City Institute is proud to be represented at the 9th RHNK Pan-African Adolescent & Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Scientific Conference 2026 by two of our team members, Thabiso B. Mathibedi and Confidence Marumo. Thabiso will be delivering an oral presentation, while Confidence will present a poster presentation, contributing to evidence-based discussions on advancing adolescent and youth SRHR across Africa.
Soul City Institute Joins National Dialogue on Human Rights, Health, Safety, and Economic Empowerment of Sex Workers in Thabazimbi
