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Chris Brown's upcoming concert in South Africa has sparked renewed attention on the country's high rates of violence against women, with campaigners arguing that it sends the wrong message due to his history of abuse. The Grammy-winner sold out tickets to the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the largest stadium in Africa, with demand so high that a second December date was added. However, the R&B star has experienced backlash from people who did not want him to perform due to his violent past.
Women for Change, an organization advocating for the rights of women and children in South Africa, has started a petition to stop the US artist from performing, which currently has over 20,000 signatures. The group wants to know how the Department of Home Affairs could grant "a convicted abuser" a visa, as having a previous conviction can result in a visa being denied. However, there can be an exception for "good cause," and those are cleared by the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs.
Chris Brown has previously been banned from entering other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, although he has subsequently played in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. But his South African fans are undeterred. Many young women and girls live in fear of being raped, and former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng shared on X that she would be attending Brown's concert if he comes. She believes that enjoying a concert aligns with every past action of the artist and that boycotting Chris Brown's concert wouldn't end GBV in South Africa.
Despite not being Chris Brown's first concert in South Africa, there is huge excitement among his fans. Some have even received threats because of her campaign against the US star. Supporters of Chris Brown seem ready to defend him at any cost, and the criticism they face for their petition speaks volumes and reveals a deep disconnect in how society views violence against women.
President Cyril Ramaphosa accepts that South Africa has a huge problem with gender-based violence and called on the country's men to take a stand. This year alone, Women for Change has honoured over 200 women who have lost their lives to femicide. The fight isn't just about this concert; it's about changing the narrative in South Africa, where abusers are held accountable and violence against women is never excused, overlooked, or forgotten.
