South African actor and producer Hlomla Dandala has spoken out about the devastating impact of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country, saying he cannot imagine the pain endured by women who lose their lives or the families left behind to mourn them. Dandala was identified as an ambassador of goodwill for the fight against GBV in 2020 and has continued to speak about the need for society to confront violence against women. The country is grappling with a devastating GBV crisis, with women and families across the country confronting the consequences of violence.
Dandala emphasized that the scale of the crisis means that South Africans should focus on finding practical solutions rather than turning on one another. He noted that there are challenges being thrown out about what could be done, what should be done, and who's not doing anything. However, he believes that this is not the time to be throwing blame, but rather to work together to find solutions. Dandala's comments come as the country continues to experience high levels of GBV, with many women and families affected.
Dandala revealed that he and a group of people had previously tried to understand the behavior of attackers by going directly into prisons to speak to convicted rapists. They wanted to understand what happens in the moments leading up to an attack, rather than simply asking what men should do to combat GBV. The conversations revealed that some rapists described reaching a point of rage where intervention from another person could potentially stop them from carrying out violence.
The group also examined the period between a perpetrator approaching a potential victim and the point at which sexual violence occurred. They deduced that between the man introducing himself to the potential victim and actual penetration, there are three minutes that could be crucial in preventing an attack. Dandala said that this became their window, and the challenge was to find a way to get help to someone in danger within those crucial minutes.
Inspired by the concept of "Vimba", a call for help that can alert people nearby when someone is being attacked or robbed, Dandala and his group developed a discreet personal emergency button. The device could be carried secretly by a person and, when activated, would send an alert not only to emergency services but also to people within a 100-meter radius. This digital Vimba is designed to turn ordinary members of the public into potential first-responders without expecting them to put themselves unnecessarily in danger.
DA MP and Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron also spoke about the human cost behind the GBV statistics. He recalled the case of 27-year-old Siphokazi Booi, whose dismembered remains were discovered in a wheelie bin near the railway line in Mbekweni, Paarl, in September 2021. Her boyfriend, Sithobele Qebe, was arrested after her remains were found and was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in August 2024.
For Dandala, the issue is ultimately about collective responsibility: violence against one person affects an entire community, and preventing it requires people to be prepared to intervene safely when someone is in danger. As South Africa continues to confront the devastating reality of GBV, Dandala's experience has left him focused on one question: how quickly can society respond when someone cries out for help? The goal is to make sure that someone is there quickly enough to prevent a potentially devastating situation from escalating.
Key points
- Hlomla Dandala and his group have developed a discreet personal emergency button that can alert people nearby when someone is in danger.
- The device can send an alert to emergency services and people within a 100-meter radius.
- Dandala emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility in preventing GBV.
