SPAR is calling on South Africans to wear black every Friday in October as part of a nationwide show of solidarity with women and girls affected by gender-based violence (GBV).
The campaign encourages employees, retailers, customers, partners and communities to participate on 9, 16, 23 and 30 October, keeping the fight against gender-based violence in the public eye ahead of the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign in November.
The call follows the first mobilisation on 2 October and comes as South Africa continues to grapple with violence against women and girls.
More Than a Symbol of Solidarity
According to SPAR, wearing black is intended to honour women who have lost their lives to violence, stand with survivors and encourage conversations about preventing abuse.
“Every person deserves to feel safe and respected. Too many women continue to experience violence, and too many families and communities continue to live with its devastating consequences,” says Mpudi Maubane, Group Head of PR, Communications and Sponsorships at The SPAR Group.
Maubane says the initiative aims to make solidarity visible and remind communities that gender-based violence should never be accepted as part of everyday life.
SPAR is also encouraging men to participate, emphasising that preventing gender-based violence is a shared responsibility.
Supporting Survivors and Prevention Efforts
Beyond the October campaign, SPAR says its ongoing EndGBV initiatives focus on prevention, survivor support and access to essential services.
Through its partnership with LifeLine, the retailer supports counselling services that provide confidential assistance to people affected by violence.
The company has also partnered with the National Prosecuting Authority to support Thuthuzela Care Centres, which provide services to survivors of sexual violence. Its contributions include care packs, toiletries and food.
Through its Build it business, SPAR is also supporting the development of a new Thuthuzela Care Centre in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, intended to provide survivors with access to critical services in a safe environment.
Its prevention efforts include educational initiatives aimed at young people, focusing on gender equality, harmful behaviour, and recognising and reporting abuse.
Building Momentum Towards 16 Days of Activism
The October mobilisation leads up to the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, which begins on 25 November.
SPAR says efforts to address gender-based violence must continue throughout the year, rather than being limited to an annual awareness campaign.
“Wearing black is a symbol, but what it represents is much bigger,” says Maubane. “It is a commitment to remember those we have lost, stand with survivors and refuse to be silent about gender-based violence.”
South Africans are encouraged to wear black at work, at home, in stores and in their communities on the remaining Fridays of October, using the initiative as an opportunity to speak out against violence and promote safer communities.
Scene Feed Thought
Wearing black may seem like a small gesture, but the conversations it starts can help keep gender-based violence in the spotlight. Real change, however, requires more than a colour or a campaign. It calls for challenging harmful attitudes, supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable and creating communities where women and girls can live without fear.