A South African women’s rights group, Women for Change, has started a petition to stop American singer Chris Brown from performing in the country.
The petition has already gathered over 20,000 signatures, with campaigners saying that allowing him to perform sends the wrong message due to his past involving violence against women.
Chris Brown’s upcoming concert at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg has drawn huge attention, with tickets for the 94,000-seat venue selling out in less than two hours.
Due to the high demand, a second date has been added for December. Despite the excitement from fans, many are opposing the event.
“When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” said Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change.
The group’s petition is intended to show that they will not accept the celebration of individuals with a history of violence, particularly in a country struggling with high rates of gender-based violence.
South Africa has some of the highest rates of femicide and GBV in the world. A rape is reported every 12 minutes, with many more cases going unreported.
“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,” Ms Walter explained.
Chris Brown’s most infamous case of abuse was in 2009 when he assaulted fellow singer Rihanna. Although Rihanna forgave him, Brown has faced other accusations of violence since then.
Ms Walter questioned how the Department of Home Affairs could allow Brown into the country, given his criminal record. “This decision is concerning and shows a failure in the system,” she said.
Despite the petition and backlash, many South African fans are excited about the concert. Some, like former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, said they still plan to attend.
“I am totally against GBV, but I will attend the concert. To suggest that enjoying a concert aligns you with every past action of the artist is simplistic,” Prof Phakeng said, adding that music is bigger than the individual.
Ms Walter acknowledged the criticism and threats she has received for her campaign but insisted, “The criticism we face speaks volumes and shows how disconnected society is from the violence women endure daily.”
She emphasized that this issue isn’t just about the concert, but about making sure violence against women is never excused or overlooked in South Africa.
