IN CONVERSATION WITH DR MPHO MATHEBULA & DR MOTLALEPULE NATHANE-TAULELA ON SCIENCE WISE

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Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, or GBVF, remains one of the most pressing social and public health challenges of our time. Addressing it requires holistic and coordinated approaches, bringing together research, policy, and community action, within what many describe as a global pandemic of violence.

GBVF research is a specialised and multi-layered field. It examines many forms of harm, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic, whether these occur in private or public spaces. It also explores how gendered violence connects with issues such as class, education, land rights, health, law enforcement, and employment.

In South Africa, the National Research Foundation (NRF), through its Research, Impact, Innovation, Support, and Advancement (RIISA) Division, funds and promotes scientific research that contributes to social and economic development. In partnership with the Female Academic Leadership Fellowship (FALF), the NRF supports research focused on understanding and eliminating gender-based violence and femicide.

A key initiative in this effort is the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation – National Research Foundation (DSTI-NRF) – Female Academic Leadership Fellowship (FALF) South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand. This Chair brings together researchers, academics, and practitioners across disciplines to build a coordinated community of practice dedicated to addressing the root causes of GBVF in South Africa.

And today we are honoured to have two of the researchers who participated in the 2025 FALF Research Symposium & FALF/WITS/NRF Research Chair on GBVF Launch. We have Dr. Motlalepule Nathane-Taulela and joining her is Dr. Mpho Mathebula,
11 Nov 2025 English South Africa Technology · Music

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