MISA’s New Pledge Signals a Turning Point in Tackling Gender-Based Violence at Work
Actress Shoki Mmola locking her support for MISA’s pledge against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Introduction
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is not only a social crisis in South Africa; it is a workplace crisis. Every day, women workers navigate environments shaped by unequal power, unsafe reporting systems, harmful cultural norms and economic dependence. For trade unions, this is no longer an issue that can be addressed on the margins of programmes or through awareness campaigns alone. It is a core labour rights challenge.
Earlier this month, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) , a union representing thousands of workers across South Africa’s automotive retail and motor services sector, became the latest labour organisation to draw a strong line in the sand. Known for organising white collar and administrative workers in an industry that is still largely male dominated, MISA has increasingly positioned itself as a defender of dignity, safety and professional standards in a sector marked by power imbalances.
At its inaugural Awake for Awareness event, the union launched a pledge committing its leadership, members and partners to confronting GBVF in both workplaces and communities. The pledge arrives at a time when South Africa’s femicide rate, according to UN estimates, is five times higher than the global average, an emergency the government has formally recognised as a national disaster.
Breaking the Silence: When Testimony Becomes a Tool for Healing and Action
Central to the event was actress Shoki Mmola, whose emotional testimony reminded the room that GBV is often hidden behind silence, shame and social pressure. Her story, years of remaining quiet, sleeping with a knife under her pillow, and fleeing to neighbours for help, is the reality of many women workers who cannot speak out for fear of retaliation, stigma or job loss.
Her words also highlighted a deeper issue: the cultural beliefs that continue to trap women in unsafe relationships. The notion that a woman “belongs to her husband,” or that the only acceptable way to leave a marriage “is in a coffin,” are not just personal burdens. These beliefs shape workplace attitudes, influence reporting behaviour, and normalise violence by framing it as a private matter rather than a structural injustice.
By choosing to speak publicly, Mmola reclaimed her narrative, but she also laid bare what many unions already know: if workplaces are not safe, society cannot be safe.
A Pledge That Treats Safety as a Worker Right
MISA’s pledge is notable for recognising GBV as a labour rights issue and for placing accountability at the centre. The commitments include:
Promoting equality and respect across all workplaces
Speaking out against abuse, harassment and intimidation
Supporting survivors with solidarity, protection and resources
Driving awareness and training to dismantle harmful norms
Collaborating with government, employers and civil society to strengthen prevention and accountability
While many organisations issue statements after high profile incidents, MISA’s pledge is anchored in responsibility. The union promises to hold government to its own G20 commitments and to ensure the national disaster classification of GBVF does not become symbolic.
This framing matters. It signals a shift from reactive outrage to institutional responsibility.
Why This Matters for the Labour Movement
Unions across Africa are increasingly recognising that GBV is intertwined with the conditions under which workers labour. It determines whether women feel safe going to work. It influences absenteeism, productivity and retention. It shapes how victims engage with grievance mechanisms. It affects union organising, especially in male dominated industries.
MISA’s intervention provides a model for how unions can take proactive steps, not only by championing rights but by transforming cultures. The motor sector, where women remain a minority and are often subject to stereotypes or marginalisation, is a critical space for demonstrating leadership on workplace safety and equality.
For the broader labour movement, the message is clear: ending GBV is central to the project of decent work.
The Work Ahead
A pledge is a beginning, not a conclusion. Implementing survivor centred policies, creating safe reporting channels, training managers, supporting male allies, and shifting harmful norms will require sustained energy. But this moment marks a significant step, a union using its platform to challenge both society and the state.
As Mmola said, “Don’t let it go too far.”
For many workers, prevention begins with being heard.
Story adapted from Sonja Carstens, Manager of MISA’s Media and Communication Department.