South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged men to abandon violence against women and redefine traditional ideas of masculinity, positioning the battle against gender-based violence as a personal duty rooted in domestic life. During a speech at the 150th anniversary of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa, he directed fathers to acknowledge their role in shaping boys’ understanding of strength and dignity.
Ramaphosa pointed out that children absorb lessons on manhood from how men treat women, handle disputes, and control emotions. “A boy learns about manhood from the men around him,” Ramaphosa declared. “He watches how his father speaks to his mother.” The president stressed that teaching boys to equate power with self-control, not domination, was critical to breaking cycles of abuse. His appeal came amid escalating violence in Ekurhuleni, where two more women were killed over the weekend. Ntombifuthi Nxumalo, the tenth victim in the area since February, was found near the Mooifontein Cemetery in Thembisa, with police suspecting she was stoned to death. A second body was discovered in Springs on Sunday afternoon.
Ramaphosa framed respect for women as an unconditional right, not a privilege. “There is dignity also in service,” he said. “Respect for women must be taught as a basic recognition of their humanity, rather than as an act of generosity. Respecting women is not a favour that we extend to women. It is recognition of their equal humanity before God.” He condemned men who exploit wealth, authority, or intimidation to control women, labeling such behavior a distortion of true masculinity.
The president also challenged religious institutions to become sanctuaries for abuse survivors, insisting their actions must align with their faith. “We cannot gather in our churches on Sundays and remain silent about what happens in our homes and communities during the rest of the week,” he said. “We cannot worship a God of love and tolerate violence against those whom God has created in his image.”
Ramaphosa called on men’s groups and the church to help confront GBVF and promote a culture of accountability. “Our covenant among men must be clear, it must be firm, and it must be heard throughout our country,” he said. “It must say: ‘Not in our homes, not in our churches, not in our communities and not in our name as the men of South Africa.’”
