There's a lot of big talk about Gender-Based Violence and what a scourge it is but what are people
DOING about it?!
I often feel this flash of anger when I see the GBV hashtag and campaigns like the upcoming 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. Yes, awareness is good but what impact does it
actually have in the real world? And how much of it is lip service by those who want to appear a certain way?
It's easy to preach and write anonymous hashtags and claim that you care about the plight and suffering of women who've been abused, but it takes much more effort, commitment, truth, suffering and courage to do something about it.
This is what the women on Orange Couch are doing with the stories they're sharing each week and SABC1 and production house Blue Wizard Productions need a shoutout for giving them the platform and support to speak out as they do.
Season 3 premiered on Tuesday 1 November at 18h00 and there's been a new episode each week, until today when it moves to twice weekly to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism this Friday (25 November).
It's going to air on Mondays and Tuesdays for the rest of the 10-episode season - there are seven episodes still to come.
In essence each one creates a place for us to give survivors empathy, understanding, respect, freedom and a united, raised fist against the evil perpetrators who've abused them.
As we hear their stories, we are with them, they're not alone and others who've suffered can know that they're not alone too.
According to the show, the couch is orange because "The colour orange symbolizes a brighter future, free of violence."
Here's a close-up on each of the women featured in the season:
Sharon Mosidi
Tuesday 1 November 2022
Episode 1
He came into her life as her saviour but then he became so much more, her worst nightmare. It wasn't only the beatings but also the denial of his flesh and blood, the womanising tendencies, and the constant embarrassment to Sharon's fellow church congregants.
She has an enduring spirit but despite this, she attempted suicide.
Nonhlanhla Zulu
Tuesday 8 November 2022
Episode 2
He was loving, caring and the sweetest that she has ever come across. He was her protector to the point that his family fell in love with her before meeting her.
Things changed when she gave birth, and he became possessive, controlling and abusive towards her.
Nonhlanhla somehow started reciprocating the abusive behaviour and became an abuser herself to some extent.
Their children witnessed the abuse to the point that their older child began pulling out her hair.
Pamela Phiri
Tuesday 15 November 2022
Episode 3
It only took one compliment for him to win over her heart. She fell in love with his words, outings, and overprotectiveness, but she missed out on the crucial part, his actions.
Everything and anything made him lose his temper, but she always told herself that it was because he loved her.
Many of us confide in that one person, but what happens when that person becomes the one who betrays you and becomes your worst enemy? Pamela had to choose between letting go and becoming a murderer.
Amkhitha Ntshanga
Monday 21 November 2022
Episode 4
It is said that being sexually abused as an infant can lead to experiencing further abuse in later years.
Amkhitha's choice for a life partner who was tall, dark, and handsome could not have come at a better time, with candle-lit dinners, matching outfits and gifts - it seemed it was a recipe for an everlasting marriage.
Amkhitha finally found happiness for a while, until, behind closed doors...
Refilwe Malete
Tuesday 22 November 2022
Episode 5
He knew everything about her, the people she hung out with and where she stayed. She thought he had done his homework very well and she believed it was cute.
But it turned out that the behaviour screamed “stalker”. Refilwe's life flashed in front of her when she was beaten, locked in a car boot with a gas tank opened and driven to an unknown destination.
Prudence Mashenene
Monday 28 November 2022
Episode 6
Prudence lost her husband when she was expecting their second child. As a widow, there is no surety that another person will love you and accept your kids as theirs. Nonetheless, she gave love a chance.
It was love at first sight, and he was her protector at work. When he moved into her home, things changed for the worst.
She became a prisoner in her own home, beaten to a pulp, until she could not recognise herself. How does one recover from seeing their abuser, not only at home but at work as well?
Nthabiseng Molefe
Tuesday 29 November 2022
Episode 7
Education brought them together, and she gained popularity because she hung out with the coolest, most intelligent young man, admired by the whole community.
Education is the key to success, but for Nthabiseng, education almost destroyed her. She paid the price for it to date.
Some think that abuse is only experienced by the uneducated because the educated “know better” but Nthabiseng's story reveals this isn't true.
Mankhedi Masha
Monday 5 December 2022
Episode 8
Mankhedi, a qualified traffic officer, fell in love with a taxi driver. All that she wanted was a life partner, and nothing else mattered.
However, he saw a cash cow in her. He grew accustomed to getting money from her until she said “NO”, which left her wheelchair bound.
Roslyn Moodley
Tuesday 6 December 2022
Episode 9
Roslyn and her boyfriend experienced teenage love, which saw them getting married and becoming parents at a very young age. They were a couple with the perfect fit and compatibility.
Then family interference in their home caused the relationship to spiral out of control. A sense of entitlement, drug abuse and control were some of the factors that led to their destruction.
Lydia Nhliziyo
Monday 12 December 2022
Episode 10
He was such a smooth talker, and this immediately caught Lydia's attention. But her honeymoon phase was short-lived when another woman was introduced into their relationship within six months. Being in the relationship meant enduring disrespect, abuse and violence.
Here's a link to the first two seasons on YouTube >>
Orange Couch Seasons 1 and 2