Having always encouraged to take up space in the universe and speak up, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi has now sparked conversation around gender-based violence asking when will enough be enough.

Tunzi also reflected on some of the deaths that have sent shock waves across the world including the death of Tshegofatso Pule, the pregnant 28-year-old who was found stabbed and hanging from a tree in Gauteng. The talks began ahead of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Zozibini said, “16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is fast approaching and I am reminded of Ingrid Escamilla, who was skinned and disembowelled in Mexico. I am reminded of Tshegofatso Pule, who was stabbed and hung on a tree in SA. These are only two of thousands of women.”

Zozi further went on to ask when will enough be enough and what it will take for women to live free from gender-based violence. “Every year we plead, we cry and we march to keep our lives - a human right. So I ask: is it our souls that you want or a world where no woman exists? Answer me that”, she added.

Zozibini is an ambassador against gender-based violence in Africa as she was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year when he was appointed as the chairperson of the AU. Zozi started her work against GBV back in August 2019 when she was crowned Miss South Africa 2019.

On being crowned Miss South Africa, Zozibini said, “We have absolutely no reason to keep smiling because the country's women are dying every day and mostly people are doing nothing about it. It is not up to us; it’s up to perpetrators to start doing right.”

16 Days of Activism is a UN campaign for no violence against women and children. It takes place annually from November 25 (international day of no violence against women) to December 10 (international Human Rights Day).