#wiseTalk: Defamation Cases & The Silencing Of Victims

“We are not prepared for a woman to be made a liar [by agreeing to mediation]” - Brenda Madumise

Hosted by Brenda Madumise and Onica Nonhlanhla Makwakwa, Wise Talk is a live social commentary broadcast on pertinent issues affecting the development of women. In this episode, the hosts comment on the issue of defamation cases being used to silence victims of gender-based violence. The comment on the case of Simphiwe Dana, a prominent musician in South Africa, who had laid charges of assault against a former partner. The accused then opened a case of defamation of character against Dana.

Brenda and Onica comment on the experience of assisting victims through this process as well as the tendency for the South African Police Service to aggressively pursue defamation cases responding to assault charges laid by victims.