South Africa is grappling with a devasting increase in gender-based violence (GBV) crisis, earning it an unenviable reputation as one of the worst-affected countries globally. The statistics are staggering. Between April 2022 and March 2023, 53,498 sexual offences were reported, with 42,780 cases of rape. Every eight hours, a woman is killed by her intimate partner, and in the first quarter of 2022, 10,818 rape cases were reported to the SAPS. Furthermore, a KPMG study found that GBV costs the economy an estimated R28.4 billion to R42.4 billion annually.
Despite efforts to address the issue, the problem persists, claiming lives and shattering families. In 2020, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women condemned South Africa’s failure to prevent and protect women and girls from domestic violence as “grave and systematic violations of rights.”
Amid these overwhelming challenges, Elmarie Pereira’s dedication to combating GBV through Memeza, the social enterprise she co-founded, is a remarkable reflection of resilience and the power of the human spirit. Her journey began with a personal tragedy – the loss of her sister to GBV. This heart-wrenching experience ignited a fierce determination to make a difference. She wants to help other women, families, and mothers avoid the pain she endured when she lost her sister to GBV.
With over 28 years of work experience, Pereira brings expertise to Memeza. Her entrepreneurial journey began a decade ago, driven by her passion to address GBV. Pereira’s family background, with her mother and sisters being successful entrepreneurs, laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial spirit. This blend of experience and passion has enabled Memeza to develop practical solutions to combat GBV.
Memeza aims to create a safer South Africa through private and public partnerships, targeting vulnerable communities with innovative technology and community-based solutions. They aim to empower communities, prevent GBV, and reduce educational ICT theft. Memeza has achieved remarkable results through these initiatives, including a 67% reduction in sexual offences in Diepsloot. Additionally, over 4,800 vulnerable individuals have been equipped with community alarms nationwide, and 966,000 women have received personal alarms.
Its community engagement and outreach programs are also vital to its success. It has secured educational ICT for 330,012 learners across 245 schools, trained over 2,700 youth, and partnered with 241 SAPS stations and community policing forums. These partnerships demonstrate Memeza’s commitment to collaborative efforts to combat GBV.
South Africa’s GBV crisis persists due to entrenched cultural and societal factors: patriarchal norms, stigma, and fear often silence survivors. Memeza fosters a supportive community, providing safe spaces for survivors to share their stories and education and awareness programs to challenge harmful norms.
However, Memeza’s crusade against GBV faces challenges as funding constraints and inadequate awareness hinder progress.
Memeza aims to overcome these challenges by strengthening partnerships and community involvement. Through collaboration with the private and public sectors, it plans to protect over 5 million vulnerable women, 1,000 no-fee schools, and 1 million students in five years. Additionally, it aims to create 5,000 community jobs to amplify its impact.
The non-profit calls on individuals and organisations to join the fight against GBV by supporting its initiatives, amplifying survivors’ voices, and advocating for policy change. Pereira’s leadership at Memeza reflects the resilience needed to combat GBV. Using technology and community-based solutions, Memeza has made real progress in reducing sexual offences and enhancing safety.
