Every great journey has a beginning, and for The Great People of South Africa, our beginning was marked by a moment of faith, a chance given to us by Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa (WVLSA), in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and GenderLinks.
We were a new, bold, and fiercely determined women’s rights organization—founded with a vision, a powerful voice, and an unshakable belief in gender justice, a South Africa free from gender based violence and other forms of human rights abuses.
But we had no resources, no policies, and no roadmap on how to navigate the challenging world of nonprofit work. Then came WVLSA, and everything changed.
When WVLSA awarded us our first-ever grant, they did not just fund an organization; they ignited a movement. Their support was the catalyst that transformed our dream into a tangible force for change. From the moment we received that funding, we flourished.
Our first-ever march, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a moment of reckoning. The streets of Cape Town bore witness to our resolve as we stood in solidarity with other movements, such as the GBV Warriors Collective, demanding justice for women and children trapped in violent homes due to lockdown restrictions. It was during this march that we received our first television interview—proof that our voice was being heard beyond our communities.
From the moment we had our first television feature as a women's rights organization, thanks to the WVLSA grant, we became an unstoppable voice in both social and traditional media spaces. What started as a single media appearance has since turned into a powerful platform for advocacy.
It was in September 2021, with our WVLSA grant, as The Great People of South Africa we began implementing our activities with immense enthusiasm and determination. Just two months later, as the world marked 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, our impact was already being recognized on a national scale. Our founder, Zintle Khobeni de Lange, was featured on eNCA as part of their special series on activism, with her story titled "From Victim to Victor."
Since then we have been featured manier times on Newzroom Afrika, SABC, eNCA, The Cape Times, The Cape Argus, IOL, Zibonele FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, HeartFM, Mpumalanga Radio, Mzansi Health Online Magazine, Salaam Media, and more.
Today, we are part of a groundbreaking global documentary on femicide and gender-based violence, filmed by the KGP Austrian Film Company, which traveled to South Africa to document our work and the fearless leadership of our founder, Zintle Khobeni de Lange, in the fight against GBV and femicide. The film was shot in the year 2023 and will be released in this year of 2025.
This international recognition is a testament to how far we have come—how a small, grassroots organization has grown into a force that is not only shaping conversations in South Africa but also contributing to the global discourse on gender justice.
None of this would have been possible without the opportunity given to us by WVLSA and their partners. Their faith in our work did more than fund programs; it gave us the credibility and visibility to drive real, lasting change
With WVLSA’s support, we adopted Town 2 in Khayelitsha, a community that has since become the heart of our work. We built relationships with religious and traditional leaders, grassroots activists, and neighborhood watch groups, creating a network of allies in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
Through this journey, we also had the opportunity to collaborate and partner with remarkable organizations, strengthening our impact in the fight against GBV. We have worked alongside New Heritage Foundation, Langa For Men, Kwanele Now GRIT, Rape Crisis Cape Town, Impilo Publishing, Incema, No Excuse, Philisa Abafazi, SAPS, the local courts dealing with sexual offences, Legal Aid, Thuthuzela Care Centres, Community Police Forums, and many others.
These partnerships have played an instrumental role in ensuring that survivors receive holistic support and that advocacy efforts remain strong in our communities.
With the WVLSA grant we also launched our first community-based paralegal training program, empowering GBV survivors with legal skills to become changemakers in their own right. We facilitated human rights workshops, provided court support, referred survivors to safe shelters, Legal Aid, and Thuthuzela Care Centres—bridging the vast gap between marginalized communities and access to justice.
Town 2 in Khayelitsha is a community that embodies both resilience and struggle. It is a place where poverty is deeply entrenched, and violence and crime have become a daily reality. Substance abuse, gang activity, extortion, and murder cast a shadow over the lives of its residents. Unemployment among youth is rampant, leaving many vulnerable to dangerous influences.
The abuse of the elderly and children is heartbreaking, as cycles of violence and trauma persist. Yet, amidst the hardship, there is a fierce determination within the community to reclaim safety, dignity, and justice. This is why our work here matters. This is why legal empowerment, education, and advocacy are not just programs but lifelines.
At the start of our WVLSA journey, we had no organizational policies in place. But with their guidance, we established frameworks that strengthened our operations and ensured sustainability. Their mentorship and belief in us gave us the credibility we needed to attract other funders—Hlanganisa Institute for Development in Southern Africa, the Solidarity Fund, Gender Links, the GBVF Response Fund 1 and 2, the Legal Empowerment Fund, and the Giving Joy Grant. We are a moving movement.
Our confidence grew, and so did our visibility. We expanded into traditional and social media spaces, using every platform to amplify our impact and call for action.
Because of WVLSA, we are no longer just an emerging organization; we are an unstoppable force in the women's rights space.
Today, as we embark on our renewed journey with the Renewed Women's Voice and Leadership Grant, we look back with immense gratitude.
WVLSA, you changed the trajectory of our work. You took a chance on us when we were unknown, and because of you, we have become a powerful voice for the most vulnerable in our communities.
From the depths of our hearts—thank you. Enkosi.
May you continue to touch and transform the lives of other women’s rights organizations as you have transformed ours.
Camagu WVLSA.
