Publications
Partners
The director of the Helen Suzman Foundation, Nicole Fritz, has been heavily attacked on social media because of the foundation's decision to challenge government on the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP). A colleague of Fritz's Ezekiel Kekana writes that the abuse is ten-fold because of her gender.
I believe it is crucial this opinion article by making a few disclaimers: first, I am a black man working at the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF). Secondly, the director of HSF, Nicole Fritz is my colleague and a fellow South African (a lot of disinformation has been spread about her nationality).
However, I am penning this piece not as much as an employee of the foundation but more as a man, who is really concerned and saddened by the level of social media-engineered abuse and harassment which Fritz, as a woman, continues to be subjected to, at the hands of men.
At the heart of this online abuse and harassment is the foundation's decision to challenge the government on the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP). Disagreeing with the foundation's position on this matter is welcomed, since we are living in a democratic dispensation where the Constitution guarantees everyone’s right to freedom of speech. However, we should all condemn the personal attacks that Fritz continues to endure because of the foundation's decision to take up the ZEP matter.
Daily attacks
There are group of men on X (formley Twitter), who have taken upon themselves to attack Fritz and her family. They continue to mobilse other like-minded people on the platform to harass and abuse her daily on social media.
It has reached a point where, as a man, I cannot keep quiet. I need to defend Fritz not only as my colleague in this matter but also as a woman. I, therefore, implore all the so-called "good men" to band together to defend Fritz against these men, who are all well-known to us.
Fritz, just like many women, easily continues to be abused and harassed on X not because she is the head of the HSF, but because of her gender. Women have become easy targets of abuse and harassment on the platform, which is reflected in Amnesty International's research findings.
We have seen journalists such as Karyn Maughan, Ferial Haffagee, Silindelo Masikane, Mahlatse Mahlase and many others battle with X-sponsored abuse and harassment over the years, just because they are women.
READ | The harmful effects of social media on mental health, body image and development of eating disorders
In addition, a research report titled gender-based violence in 140 characters or fewer found that there is a "relationship between misogynistic language and rape statistics," and in South Africa, we have seen situations of how online abuse can easily morph into sexual and physical abuse.
It is in that spirit that I am compelled to caution these abusive men on X to stop threatening Fritz. Disagree with the HSF's position, but threats of violence and harassment, just because you are unhappy with the foundation’s position, does not only amount to misogyny, but also reeks of criminality.
What is the way forward?
Through Fritz's experience, we need to not only see online harassment and abuse against women for what it is, but we must also hold X to account for remaining a platform that continues to be a haven of abusers and a fertile ground for gender-based violence in our society.
There’s no doubt that the platform has failed over the years to deal with the abuse, harassment, and violence directed at women. One just hopes under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, who keeps changing various elements on the platform, X starts doing better in terms of dealing decisively with those who use the social media site to spew racism, misogny and hate towards women.
The calls to review the platform’s current policy on abuse and harassment are legitimate. There needs to be strict, solid measures put in place to prevent this vile behaviour going forward.
Swift actions such as suspending an account or removing a perpetrator from the platform should be speedily processed. This will help in motivating women to report acts of abuse, violence, and harassment.
Finally, and most importantly, it is men, who must change how we treat women in all spaces we occupy. We, the so-called "good men" should not remain quiet when woman, such as Fritz, are subjected to abuse and harassment, and still call ourselves allies against abuse on women.
In her book titled Femicide in South Africa, Dr Nechama Brodie questions this type of allyship. She calls such men the 'look-out' guys, who see and know that abuse is committed by their fellow brothers and friends but don't act against such people. I refuse to be that 'look-out' guy, and I call all fellow men to join me in this regard.
For women like Fritz to no longer face abuse and harassment on X and in our society in general, we all need to use our voices and bodies against these abusers.
The truth is that it will take men to end any form of abuse, harassment and violence faced by women, and the time for men to act against the perpetrators of such evil acts against women has never been more urgent than it is now.
- Ezekiel Kekana is a Researcher at HSF
*Want to respond to the columnist? Send your letter or article to opinions@news24.com with your name and town or province. You are welcome to also send a profile picture. We encourage a diversity of voices and views in our readers' submissions and reserve the right not to publish any and all submissions received.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
