As South Africa concludes another year of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, new insights shared today at the Joburg Theatre reveal a vital truth: violence is not just physical — it is emotional, cultural, and often marked by persistent generational patterns of taboo and silence.

Creative dialogue circles organised by Khulisa Social Solutions, spanning three provinces and supported by the Delegation of Flanders in Southern Africa, have brought to light personal stories of identity struggles, fear, cultural pressure, and unspoken trauma that fuel conflict long before it becomes visible.

Across Limpopo, Gauteng, and the North West, participants spoke with a level of honesty that was both painful and courageous. Women described customs that teach them to “endure suffering” even when they are harmed. Young people explained how decisions affecting their lives are made without their input, leaving them frustrated and resentful. LGBTQIA+ participants in Alexandra shared that simply being seen places them in danger, and many said they learn to shrink themselves to survive.

These stories point to a shared truth: violence begins long before fists are raised. It starts when people are silenced.

One participant in Limpopo reflected, “Culture teaches us who we are, but punishes us when we try to grow.”
In Rustenburg, a creative artist held up a puppet without a mouth and quietly said, “This is every woman who has been silenced.”
In Alexandra, young people repeatedly referenced the phrase “abantu bazothini?” — what will people say? — capturing how social judgment shapes their everyday choices.

These lived experiences make one thing unmistakably clear: emotional suppression, cultural silence, and social judgment are powerful contributors to the violence South Africa continues to confront.

Equally striking was the transformation that took place when participants were given safe spaces to speak openly. The dialogue circles incorporated poetry, puppetry, dance, storytelling, symbolic objects, and multilingual expression to help participants articulate emotions they had held onto for years. Across all provinces, many said it was the first time they felt truly unjudged.

The sessions showed that creativity is not entertainment — it is a lifeline. Through creative expression, grief softened, anger found language, shame dissolved, and people realised they were not alone.

From these dialogues, clear and practical solutions emerged. Participants called for:

• Safe, regular dialogue circles within communities
• Recognition of creativity as a vital tool for emotional healing
• Meaningful inclusion of young people in decision-making spaces
• Safe, identity-affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals
• Cultural practices that evolve to protect dignity rather than suppress it

In the North West, creatives specifically asked to be formally recognised as community mentors, acknowledging the emotional labour they are already performing in their communities.

These are not abstract ideas. They are practical, community-led solutions that can be implemented immediately and at low cost. They address a critical gap in South Africa’s response to gender-based violence: prevention that begins before harm occurs.

Each year, the country spends millions on shelters, policing, and emergency responses, yet violence continues to rise. The evidence from these dialogue circles suggests why — the emotional and cultural roots of violence remain largely unaddressed.

The experiences shared during these sessions demonstrate that change often begins when people are allowed to speak, feel, and be seen openly and without fear. While the 16 Days of Activism serve as an annual reminder of the impact of violence, these dialogue circles reveal that its origins are often found in quieter moments — when people are told to hide their pain, identity, or voice.

If South Africa seeks lasting change, supportive spaces must be available throughout the year, addressing harm before it escalates.