The startlingly high rates of violence against women in South Africa have drawn attention once again in the wake of Chris Brown’s upcoming concert, which supporters claim sends the wrong message considering his history of abuse.
The Grammy winner was able to sell out the approximately 94,000-seat FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in less than two hours. This stadium is the biggest in Africa. Due to overwhelming demand, a second December date was added.
The R’n’B singer has faced criticism from some who did not want him to perform because of his violent history, despite the overwhelming enthusiasm.
“I was shocked and really disappointed to learn that Chris Brown was visiting South Africa,” stated Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change, an organisation that advocates for the rights of women and children in South Africa.
The group has started a petition to stop the US artist from performing. It currently has over 20,000 signatures.
Women for Change is a campaign against Chris Brown, a musician with a history of violence against women, in South Africa. The country has one of the highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence globally, with rape reported every 12 minutes. The petition aims to send a strong message that fame and power outweigh accountability in a country where GBV is at crisis levels. Chris Brown’s most well-known instance of abuse is his domestic dispute with singer Rihanna in 2009. He pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to five years probation, community service, and domestic violence counselling.
Women for Change is seeking information on how the Department of Home Affairs could grant “a convicted abuser” a visa. According to South African law, having a previous conviction can result in a visa being denied, but there can be an exception for “good cause,” which is cleared by the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs. Chris Brown has previously been banned from entering other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, although he has subsequently played in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
Despite the controversy, Chris Brown’s South African fans remain undeterred. Former University of Cape Town vice chancellor Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng shared on X that she would be attending Chris Brown’s concert if he came, stating that enjoying a concert does not align with every past action of the artist. She added that boycotting Chris Brown’s concert wouldn’t end GBV in South Africa, as attending the concert does not magically erase their moral stance on GBV.
The criticism for the petition speaks volumes and reveals a deep disconnect in how society views violence against women. Selective outrage is dangerous because it perpetuates the rape culture and high levels of violence women face every day. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledges South Africa’s problem with gender-based violence and calls on men to take a stand, but little has changed in five years. This year alone, Women for Change has honored over 200 women who have lost their lives to femicide.
(BBC)
