Concert at Chris Brown FNB Stadium sparks debate in South Africa about gender-based violence

Chris Brown’s upcoming concert in South Africa has led to renewed focus on the level of violence against women in the country. Campaigners say the concert sends the wrong message because of his history of abuse.

In less than two hours, the Grammy Award-winning singer sold out tickets to FNB Stadium in Johannesburg – Africa’s largest stadium with more than 94,000 seats. Demand was so high that a second day in December was added.

Despite the huge interest, the R ‘n’ B star still faced backlash from people who didn’t want him to perform because of his violent past.

“When I heard that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” said Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change, an organization that advocates for the rights of women and children in South Africa. sharp.

The group has started a petition to stop the American artist from performing. It’s over now 20,000 signatures.

“The petition was started to send a strong message that we will not tolerate the glorification of individuals with a history of violence against women,” Ms. Walter said.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide in the world.

A rape case was reported in the country every 12 minutes and it is thought that there are many more that are not recorded.

Ms Walters said: “When someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels, it sends a damaging message – that fame and power outweigh accountability. submission”.

The most famous case in Chris Brown’s history of abuse was a domestic dispute with singer Rihanna in 2009.

Chris Brown, then 19 years old, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to five years of probation, community service and domestic violence counseling.

In spite of Rihanna forgave him and the pair dated again briefly after the incidentChris Brown has also been accused of violence by other women – and men.

Women for Change said it wanted to know how the Home Office could grant a visa to a “convicted abuser”.

For Ms. Walter, the decision “is concerning and shows a systemic failure.”

Under South African law, having a criminal record can lead to visa refusal. But there can be an exception to “just cause” and those cases will be cleared by the Director General of the Home Office.

Chris Brown was previously banned from entering other countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, although he has since continued to compete in England and elsewhere in Europe.

But his South African fans are not discouraged.

Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng shared on X that she will attend Chris Brown’s concert.

“I am completely against GBV and condemn it. I believe that those who commit GBV crimes will face the full punishment of the law without exception or leniency.

“But let me be clear, in case the message goes wrong: I will attend Brown’s concert if he comes. These two things are not mutually exclusive.

“To suggest that enjoying a concert engages you with every artist’s past actions is at best simplistic and at worst intellectually dishonest,” she said.

Professor Phakeng explains that “music is bigger than people”.

She added that boycotting Chris Brown’s concert will not end the GBV problem in South Africa.

“Attending the concert does not magically erase our moral stance on GBV.”

Even though this wasn’t Chris Brown’s first concert in South Africa, his fans were excited.

One person said on X: “Chris Brown coming to South Africa??… I would borrow money for a meet and greet.”

“Chris Brown, you don’t know us yet… but my wife and I will be two tiny fans in the audience singing and dancing to every beat!!!!” another said.

Ms. Waters said she even received threats because of the campaign against the American star.

“Chris Brown’s supporters seem willing to defend him at all costs,” she said.

“The criticism we are facing over our petition speaks volumes and really shows the profound differences in how we, as a society, view accept violence against women.”

She says people are often willing to “ignore abusive behavior” when it comes to celebrities they admire.

Selective outrage is dangerous because it perpetuates rape culture and the high levels of violence women face every day, Ms. Walters said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that South Africa has a major problem with gender-based violence and in August he called on the country’s men to take a stand.

“Our ultimate goal is to completely end gender-based violence,” he said.

However, this target remains a long way off – little has changed five years after he called for action to tackle the problem. the country’s “rape crisis”..

This year alone, Women for Change has honored more than 200 women who have lost their lives to femicide.

“This fight is not just about this concert. It is about changing the narrative in South Africa, where abusers are held accountable and violence against women is never excused, ignored or forgotten.”