The Learning Lunch podcast explores ideas, approaches and social innovations – creating opportunity for non-profit organisations’ teams to discover what others are learning and space to reflect on what these insights might mean for their own strategy and programme implementation.
Gender-based violence is a national disaster in South Africa, reflecting the scale and urgency of the problem that has social, public health and economic costs.
Preventing violence before it happens is a critical part of building safer communities in the long run. This means investing in the social conditions that shape behaviour, relationships and how boys and men understand power, respect and masculinity.
From early childhood socialisation to positive role modelling, programmes that challenge harmful gender norms and promote healthy forms of masculinity can address the risk factors that drive men’s perpetration of violence.
South Africa has committed around R21 billion over the medium term to implement the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide, including measures to strengthen women’s economic empowerment.
In this podcast, we explore what it would take to strengthen South Africa’s focus on violence prevention, why community-based interventions matter and how investing in boys’ development can help build safer societies. We talk to Kgahliso Mangoale, Project Lead for GBV Initiatives at DGMT and Kolping Mbumba, Director of Operations at Heroes Academy.
Kgahliso Mangoale is the Project Lead for GBV Initiatives at DGMT, a public health specialist with over a decade of experience in HIV, social and behaviour change programming, youth and women’s health, and gender-based violence prevention. She is passionate about advancing gender justice and promoting the health, rights, and resilience of marginalised communities.
Kolping Mbumba is Director of Operations at Heroes Academy. He is also a published author, comedy writer, and community developer, was raised in the townships of Nyanga and Philippi, where he witnessed firsthand the damaging effects of gang violence, drug abuse and gender-based violence. His experiences motivated him to live a purposeful life, dedicated to making a positive impact in disadvantaged communities and inspiring hope.
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Explore policy briefs to combat gender-based violence
Hover over the images to read more and to download a policy brief.
Action against GBV
This brief outlines the scale and persistence of gender-based violence in South Africa, despite strong constitutional protections, and calls for urgent, actionable measures beyond government pledges to protect women and girls.
Investing in GBV safe spaces
This brief highlights the potential of Thuthuzela Care Centres and GBV shelters to provide comprehensive support for survivors, and calls for their improvement, standardisation and expansion across South Africa.
GBV: Navigating the police and justice systems
This brief examines the critical role of police and the justice system in addressing gender-based violence in South Africa, highlighting systemic barriers that hinder survivors’ access to justice and drawing lessons from international experiences.
Alcohol and GBV
This brief examines the strong link between alcohol and gender-based violence in South Africa, highlighting how high rates of heavy episodic drinking drive both the frequency and severity of intimate partner violence.
The prevention of alcohol harms to children
This policy brief examines how heavy drinking harms children & teenagers in SA, driving violence, trauma, and neglect in homes and communities. It calls for urgent action to reduce alcohol-related harm & create safer, healthier environments.