By Sitha Maliwa:
Buffalo City is about to witness a battle cry like no other – a full-force mobilisation against gender-based violence, led by security mogul and entertainer Mlindelwa “Man B” Tyekana.
In a historic first, Tyekana Protection Services has joined forces with the Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety, SAPS, Buffalo City Metro Law Enforcement, and Community Policing Forums for a massive safety and security imbizo. The mission: to arm women with the tools, knowledge, and courage to detect danger and fight back.
The event – fittingly titled Women Have the Right to Exist – is set to pull hundreds from Buffalo City Metro and surrounding towns. It will deliver raw, unflinching truths about the daily threats women face, and the measures they can take to protect themselves.
Eastern Cape Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha will deliver the keynote address, praising the bold move by Tyekana as a rare but vital partnership between private muscle and government power.
“This is a great move by Tyekana, especially as it comes at a critical time where the nation is being troubled by matters of gender-based violence,” Nqatha said. “It’s encouraging when the private sector partners with government to deal with societal matters, especially concerning the issue of violence against women.”
The urgency is not imagined. The 2024 Human Sciences Research Council study revealed that 33.1% of South African women over 18 – an estimated 7.3 million people =have been physically attacked in their lifetime. Among black African women, the numbers are even more devastating.
Eastern Cape has seen GBV cases drop, but a chilling 27% of women still report abuse from a current or former partner.
Tyekana says this is unacceptable.
“Even that 27% should not be there,” he declared. “We can only be happy about the decrease, but we’ll be even happier if we curb GBV altogether.”
The imbizo will not just be speeches. NGOs like Ubuhlebethu Centre will offer free trauma counselling, and security experts will break down street-smart safety strategies.
And to remind survivors that joy can still be found, musicians from Tyekana’s own label will take the stage – turning pain into power through music.
Tyekana is calling on everyone – not just women – to show up.
“We need to protect them. As the security fraternity, it is our responsibility to ensure that. That’s why I call upon all residents of the metro and surrounding areas, even men, to be part of this imbizo, “ he said.
On the day, the message will be loud, clear, and impossible to ignore: in Buffalo City, women will no longer just survive – they will exist, thrive, and fight back.
Mark your calendars! The event will take place at the Drifters Inn grounds in Cambridge, East London, next Saturday, the 30th. Don’t miss out! – @NewsSA_Online
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