News & Activities
“Human Rights Day is both a time for reflection and a call to action for equality, justice, and human dignity for all.”
The Life Esidimeni tragedy, described as one of the worst human rights violations in democratic South Africa, exposed a devastating failure to uphold these values. More than 140 people lost their lives as a result of negligence, poor governance, and systemic failure....
Human Rights Festival: Join our Panel Discussion
Together with Amandla.mobi, Tekano will host a panel discussion at the Human Rights Festival on 28 March 2026 at 15:00 in the Dignity Room at Constitutional Hill. The discussion is titled Technology, Power, and Democracy in South Africa: Reclaiming the Digital...
Reimagining Black Fatherhood in South Africa
The 2024 State of South African Fathers (SOSAF) report has reignited debates about fatherhood in this country. Its findings are stark: economic precarity, restrictive gender norms, and the lingering myth of the “absent Black father” continue to shape perceptions of...
Reclaiming the streets of Langa
“Government has been building streets from the car perspective for so long things need to change, communities need to connect. Cape Town is so segregated things are far by driving but once you navigate streets, they are so close. What I love a lot about cycling is...
“Isolation is the enemy of justice”
Tekano recently convened Umzabalazo, its annual gathering dedicated to reflection, creativity, and collective celebration. This year’s theme, “The Power of Us,” paid tribute to the tradition of collective action that has shaped South Africa’s pursuit of justice. The...
Breaking the Borders: Lessons from Nairobi
“We can no longer stay in a vacuum and enable colonialism. For as long as we remain closed in our borders, we are giving power to colonialism because that is what they wanted, that is what they did in 1885,” said the Pan-Africanist Mildred Ngesa during a discussion...
Safeguard the National Dialogue from ‘elitism and electioneering’
Like many other South Africans, I approached the National Dialogue with some scepticism. Too often, such spaces are elite-led, with ordinary voices left out. However, as a social activist, I know the importance of carrying with me the voices of those I organise with...
“Waiting is a luxury we can no longer afford.”
The journey through Kenya with Tekano was not just a passage across land, but a threshold into truth, a soulful reckoning that awakened me from the fog of complacency and entitlement. Beneath Africa’s pulse, I faced the raw power of presence: that change does not wait...
Rest in Power Crystal!
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague, Crystal Dicks, who led our programme between 2020-2022. Bringing a deep experience as a labour union education leader, feminist activist, and thinker, Crystal took on the directorship of the Tekano...
The Role of SA Media in Perpetuating Abortion Stigma
Remember when local newspapers published records of Bonang Matheba’s alleged abortion after reports of her being allegedly abused by her ex, DJ Euphonik? That moment remains a stark example of how the media in South Africa perpetuates abortion stigma, turning a...
How Change Happens
Our Cohort 6 fellows recently gathered in Johannesburg for the in-person learning experience III. The learning experience, titled How Change Happens, provided a space to build on individual and collective understanding and sense-making of how change happens, not only...
A Call for Urgent Action on Drug Abuse
As the world observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June, our fellow Thando Masango raised concerns about the drug crisis affecting South Africa’s youth. Thando, who is an anti-drug activist and community advocate, is alarmed by...
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