Thousands of runners and walkers gathered for the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha on 26 September, using one of South Africa’s largest female-focused sporting platforms to take a unified stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and period poverty.
The event took place against a sobering national backdrop. Between July and September, multiple women’s bodies were discovered across Ekurhuleni, while the national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre processed over 6,000 calls in the first 16 days of September alone.
Ahead of the starting horn, participants observed a two-minute moment of silence to honor lives lost to violence, wearing black bandanas as a visible symbol of solidarity with survivors and affected families.
Moving Beyond Campaigns to 365-Day Interventions
SPAR’s EndGBV and End Period Poverty platforms represent a year-round commitment that spans prevention, education, and survivor support across South Africa.
Key operational partnerships highlighted at the event include:
- Thuthuzela Care Centres: Providing immediate, practical medical, legal, and psychological care for survivors at their most vulnerable moments.
- LifeLine: Supporting national counseling helplines and survivor support networks.
- Ripples for Change: Receiving R50,000 raised from the race to launch a rural high school program focused on equipping girls with practical safety tools while teaching boys about respect and healthy masculinity.
“Today was about using a platform that brings thousands of people together to acknowledge a reality that continues to affect women across our country,” said Honey Koba, SPAR Eastern Cape Sponsorship Controller. “The moment of silence gave us an opportunity to remember the lives that have been lost, while the black bandanas represented our collective solidarity.”
“For SPAR, the fight against gender-based violence is not confined to moments of national outrage or to the 16 Days of Activism. We have been on this journey for many years, and it is a 365-day commitment,” emphasized Mpudi Maubane, Group Head: PR, Communications & Sponsorships at The SPAR Group. “The race may end, but our responsibility does not. There can be no finish line in the fight against gender-based violence.”
Key Initiative Highlights
- Event Location: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape (26 September 2026)
- Symbol of Solidarity: Black bandanas and a two-minute moment of silence
- Beneficiary Focus: R50,000 directed to school-based safety and positive masculinity workshops via Ripples for Change
- Core Partners: LifeLine, Thuthuzela Care Centres, Ripples for Change