Women take a stand exposing the hidden face of sexual corruption

EAST LONDON – Masimanyane Women’s Rights International (MWRI) in partnership with the African Women Against Corruption Network(AWACN) brought together women, community leaders and activists on 14 August 2025 for a powerful conversation on gendered corruption at the Osner Hotel in East London.

The event, held as part of Women’s Month celebrations, formed the Eastern Cape edition of AWACN’s flagship conversations series. It tackled the gendered realities of corruption, with a particular focus on sexual corruption and abuse of authority issues that organisers said disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable women and girls.

The programmes manager at Masimanyane Women’s Rights International, Farida Myburgh, highlighted that the event united women from diverse backgrounds including transgender women, women with disabilities, students and community members to raise awareness and understand what gendered corruption looks like.

She had this to say, “There are so many women who live with these challenges, either sexual harassment or being forced into circumstances where they have to offer themselves. That is not just degrading it breaks your soul. Someone in power always has that over you, knowing how to control you for the rest of your time in that environment,” said Farida.

According to the founder of AWACN, Zakhona Mvelase, “Historically, when you think about corruption you think about it in monetary terms but today we are talking about a different form of corruption sexual corruption which disproportionately impacts women.”

In addition Eastern Cape Department of Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta emphasized that they gathered not just for dialogue but for honest reflection on a difficult truth, corruption eroded governance, deepened inequality, entrenched gender injustice and weakened democracy.

“Corruption wears a woman’s face, not because women are corrupt but because women suffer the consequences most profoundly. Corruption is not only about what is stolen, it is about what is denied. We must rebuild a state that is capable, ethical, developmental and compassionate. A state that is clean, just and gender equitable,” She added.

Furthermore, the event closed on a note of determination and hope, reinforcing that the fight against sexual corruption is not just a conversation but a movement.