The National Women’s for Change initiative has spotlighted the urgent, non-negotiable need to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. This crucial movement culminated just two weeks ago, on 21 November 2025, in the widespread G20 Women’s Shutdown, a day that indelibly marked the public consciousness and served as a unified declaration of distress. While the call to action is clear, the solution requires us to look deeper than the surface. At its core, this national crisis is deeply rooted in complex societal and emotional dynamics that have gone unaddressed for too long.

Research indicates that men who lack healthy emotional outlets are significantly more likely to experience stress, isolation, and, in some cases, harmful behaviour. However, to truly shift the dial, we must understand the foundations of where this starts. Insights from our wellness partners, Serenity, reveal that beneath the surface of abusive behaviour often lies a history of unresolved pain and childhood wounds.

Many men in our society grew up following a painful script where violence was used to "discipline", and tears were met with shame. This trauma does not disappear in adulthood; it morphs into a distorted definition of manhood where anger is the only "acceptable" emotion. When a man feels he is failing—financially or socially—shame creeps in. In a tough economic climate, the inability to be the "provider" can lead to a desperate attempt to regain power at home, often manifesting as controlling behaviour or violence.

Furthermore, entrenched patriarchal thinking can twist relationships into ownership, where a partner’s boundary is perceived as a challenge to masculinity. This is compounded by emotional illiteracy—if a man has never learnt the vocabulary to say "I feel hurt" or "I feel insecure", he is liable to default to the only expression he knows: aggression.

It is crucial to state that understanding these emotional undertones explains the behaviour, but it does not excuse it. GBVF is never justified. However, if we do not address these root causes—emotional isolation, societal pressures, and the inability to process shame—we cannot hope to break the cycle

“As a woman, I look at the statistics in our country with a heavy heart; the fear that women carry daily is real and pervasive. However, as a business leader, I know that we cannot simply legislate this problem away with policies alone. We have to do the hard work of healing the human.

We are seeing that when we give men the tools to deconstruct their own trauma and shame, we aren't just creating better employees; we are creating safer fathers, partners, and community members. Addressing the 'soft' issues of emotional intelligence is actually the hardest, most necessary strategic move we can make to end the violence. We are committed to holding space for this transformation—accountability and empathy must walk hand in hand,” says Lebo Molokwane, Executive: Human Capital at Barloworld Equipment.

In our organisation, we understand that addressing gender-based violence and femicide requires more than just reactive measures.

Over the past three years, our Count Me In initiative has been a cornerstone in creating a supportive environment for our male employees to unpack these very issues. Through our Real Talk Huddles, we have provided a safe space for open dialogue, helping men move past the "anger script" to explore vulnerability, build emotional resilience, and foster a culture of accountability and respect.

This commitment culminated in our Men’s Conference in June 2025, an event designed to further empower our male employees to become positive influences in their communities. These initiatives are not just about internal growth; they reflect our belief that meaningful change starts within and extends outward, influencing society at large.

By understanding and addressing the root causes, we believe that corporations can play a pivotal role in driving cultural change. We invite others to join us in this journey, contributing to a broader movement for a safer and more inclusive society.