Siya Kolisi Urges South African Men to Take Action Against GBVF Amid Femicide Crisis
- Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shared a video on Instagram urging South African men to take action against gender-based violence
- Kolisi's post comes as police investigate the deaths of at least nine women found in the Ekurhuleni area since July
- Fans and fellow athletes flooded the comments section with messages of support for the rugby icon's stance
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Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has stepped into the national conversation around gender-based violence and femicide, posting a heartfelt video to Instagram urging South African men to stop leaving the fight to women.
Source: Instagram
The post arrives as the country grapples with the deaths of at least nine women found in the Ekurhuleni area over the past two months, a crisis that has reignited public anger over GBVF.
In his caption, Kolisi drew a direct parallel between the support men receive and the support they owe.
"We ask South Africa to stand behind us all the time. Now I'm asking us as men to stand up," he wrote.
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He described violence against women as a lived daily reality, not merely a headline, and was candid about the limits of his own knowledge while rejecting the idea that awareness alone is sufficient. "We need action," he said, adding that men have work to do and that he wants to be part of the solution.
Thierry Henry among those who reacted
The post drew rapid engagement, pulling over 10,600 likes within 40 minutes of going live, with former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry among those who responded. More than 300 comments had accumulated by the time of writing.
Watch the video on the post below on Instagram.
Fellow athletes and fans rallied behind the captain.
Tennis player matt_ebden wrote:
"Yes boss 🙌🙏,"
@zanelepotelwa:
"Thank you for your constant incredible leadership, Bhuti 🙏🙏🙏💜💜💜."
Others were more pointed in their praise. @tshepithefixer wrote:
"Siya gets it. He gets it!"
@rollis1975 added:
"This is what I am talking about. Well done, Siya, and thank you."
Further reactions included
@junglejoe333:
"Full power brother!!! 🔥❤️,"
@ncence3819:
"👏👏👏 Enkosi Siya 🙌,"
@miss_nogwazafit:
"My Captain!!!"
A years-long commitment to the cause
This is far from Kolisi's first time using his profile to address gender-based violence. Growing up in Zwide, outside Gqeberha, he witnessed abuse against his mother and aunt, experiences he has spoken about publicly on multiple occasions. He was later named a UN global advocate for the Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women, and as recently as November 2025 he ran a "Purple Friday" campaign to keep the issue in the public eye.
His latest message comes at a moment of heightened urgency. South Africa formally classified GBVF as a national disaster months ago, and the Ekurhuleni killings have brought condemnation from civil society organisations and sporting bodies across the country, pushing the crisis back to the centre of the national conversation.
Ex-Orlando Pirates star slams Kempton Park blackout
Briefly News previously reported that former Orlando Pirates midfielder Michael Morton called out failed street lighting and non-functioning traffic signals in Kempton Park after arriving there late on Thursday night
Morton's post on X drew over 182,000 views as residents across Ekurhuleni and Tshwane shared similar experiences of unlit streets
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Source: Briefly News
