Tina Thiart On What it Will Take to Turn SA's Fight Against GBV into Meaningful Action

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After more than two decades of gender-based violence advocacy, Tina Thiart believes South Africa can turn awareness into lasting change – if government, businesses and communities act together to protect women and support survivors.

Cape Town, South Africa (12 October 2026) – As South Africa heads into the annual 16 Days of Activism period, the country’s gender-based violence crisis remains at alarming levels.

Activists are calling more loudly than ever for a country where women do not have to fear leaving their homes, visiting the post office, going for a run or questioning whether their partner could be a threat. Yet, as alarming reports continue to emerge, thousands of women still face violence, harassment and abuse.

Among the voices at the forefront of the fight against femicide is Tina Thiart, co-founder of 1000 Women Trust. For more than 20 years, she has worked tirelessly as a catalyst for social change and gender equality in South Africa.

With women’s safety once again in the spotlight, Tina spoke to Good Things Guy about where her activism began and what it will take to turn South Africa’s fight against gender-based violence into meaningful action and accountability.

Tina’s passion for justice goes back many years. As a child, she was exposed to the many injustices of the apartheid government.

“This is where my awareness of human rights began,” she says.

At university, she experienced firsthand how women had fewer rights and opportunities than men.

“Our study options were often limited. I also shared a room with a young woman who was shamed and silenced by her family after reporting a rape. Instead of supporting her, the university asked her to leave.”

The inequality followed her into her first year of teaching, where separate rules applied to men and women and different privileges were afforded to each.

“At the same time, one of my sisters was trapped in a violent marriage.”

Later, while working in the NPO sector and speaking with her peers, Tina realised that GBV was a common experience among many of her colleagues. Although they had endured abuse, most did not want to open police cases. They simply accepted it and carried on.

It became clear to Tina that something needed to change. In 2003, she and a co-founder started a campaign encouraging women to report abuse and seek support rather than suffer in silence.

Tina hasn’t looked back since.

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Today, Thiart is the director and owner of a QCTO-registered skills training provider that supports community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The organisation specialises in developing innovative fundraising strategies and sustainable development plans.

Over the past 22 years, she has organised 15 Women’s Conferences, bringing together 1,000 women and mobilising resources for community-based organisations.

Thiart said the Trust aims to give women-led organisations access to skills development, leadership capacity-building and financial support so they can continue serving their communities. Its initiatives seek to bridge cultural, economic and class divides, creating a platform for women and men to stand together and speak out against domestic violence, abuse and rape in their communities.

Asked whether one initiative has resonated with her most, Tina points to the international launch of the #HearMeToo campaign.

“At 1000 Women Trust, we encouraged women’s groups to host small #HearMeToo tea parties where women could share their stories in a safe and supportive environment.”

“As we collected these stories, we witnessed the powerful impact they had on other women. Hearing the experiences of others gave many women the courage to speak out, report abuse, and make difficult decisions about their futures. For the first time, many realised they were not alone. They discovered a community of women who had faced similar challenges and understood their struggles.”

Those gatherings led to support groups and a growing network of GBV activists who help women in their communities. In response to the need for greater awareness and empowerment, Tina and her team also expanded their training and skills development programmes.

“Today, more than 25,000 people have participated in our capacity-building programmes, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to create safer and more supportive communities.”

Yet GBV-related cases continue to rise despite years of public awareness campaigns. It raises an urgent question: why, and what will it take to change this reality?

Tina says one of the greatest challenges is that perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence still face too few consequences.

“Bullying in schools also contributes to a culture where some boys learn abusive behaviours from a young age. Even today, we receive many reports of police officers refusing to open cases against perpetrators. Case dockets go missing, DNA evidence is never processed or expires before it can be used, and legal professionals sometimes prioritise profit over justice by protecting perpetrators. Perhaps most concerning is that many women still believe they should remain in abusive relationships for the sake of their children.”

She also notes that the lack of affordable housing and adequate support for single mothers compounds the problem.

“Gender-based violence is a complex issue, but there are solutions that have proven successful in other countries,” says Tina, noting that in Australia women leaving abusive relationships can access financial support to help them rebuild their lives and transition to safety.

For Tina, addressing gender-based violence requires a holistic approach: stronger accountability for perpetrators, better support systems for survivors, accessible housing, economic opportunities for women and a justice system they can trust.

When it comes to concrete action, Tina believes the government needs to focus on implementation.

“We already have laws, policies, protocols, and excellent strategic frameworks in place, but implementation remains a major challenge. Too often, there are no consequences for departments that fail to deliver on their mandates.”

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She believes the private sector can also play a far greater role in helping to eradicate gender-based violence.

“Companies should begin by educating and sensitising employees about GBV, sexual harassment, and exploitation, while taking a clear and public stand against all forms of violence and abuse.”

Businesses can also provide valuable non-financial support to organisations working in this space. Unused equipment, printing services, transport, office space, professional expertise and other in-kind resources can make a significant difference. Many companies have underused assets, services and skills that could strengthen community organisations and support survivors of GBV.

Ending gender-based violence requires collective action. As Tina puts it:

“Government must be held accountable for implementing existing policies and services, while businesses, civil society, and communities all have a role to play in creating safer environments and supporting those affected by violence.”

Over the past five years, mass-action campaigns, marches and memorandums submitted to government have brought some positive progress.

“We now have a Strategic Plan and a National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. However, despite these achievements, the reality on the ground remains deeply concerning.”

REEA Hostel Maria Soothing the Nation Gender-Based Violence — Photo Credit: Thirdman via Pexels

Even so, Tina has observed that the NPO sector, which carries out much of the frontline response to gender-based violence, remains severely underfunded.

“Shelters continue to face immense financial pressure and are struggling to cope with growing demand. At the same time, government departments and funding entities often take months, and sometimes years, to distribute approved funding.”

Survivor voices and women-led movements continue to face significant challenges.

“The President has called for audits and investigations, but communities are asking a simple question: what happens next? Civil society organisations have been raising the same concerns with government for years, yet many of these issues remain unresolved.

“We have repeatedly reported the shortage of police vehicles, as well as the large number of vehicles that are out of service. Communities have protested for basic infrastructure such as functioning streetlights, which are critical for public safety.

Shelter organisations regularly meet with government leaders and ministers to explain the challenges they face, yet every year, particularly during the high-demand festive season, they are told that funding has been reduced and that shelters are unable to meet the needs of survivors.

“The issue is not a lack of awareness,” Tina says.

“Government has been informed of these challenges time and again. The real challenge is implementation, accountability and the political will to ensure that commitments are translated into meaningful action. Until that happens, communities, shelters and survivors will continue to bear the burden of a system that too often falls short of delivering the support they desperately need.”