GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Breaking the Silence
By Thandi Makoni
and disillusioned as a victim of violence. The cycle of abuse was multifaceted and sometimes physically beaten and nearly left for dead, emotionally manipulated, I was mentally tormented and made to believe that I would be trapped in this bubble of abuse forever, psychologically threatened and criticized about everything, verbally attacked, and sexually violated by family members that should have played the role as keepers and protectors of a sister, the list is endless. However, everything changed one afternoon when a cold barrel of a gun was pointed at my head. After many near- death experiences and many roller coaster rides, I chose to break free by walking away from the cycle of abuse, refusing to become a statistic of gender-based violence.
As an advocate against Gender based violence my story has been crucial in creating awareness and encouraging women to break the silence raising their voices in speaking up against all form of abuse and violence , and finding their courage of walking away from toxic relationships and environments. WWM
Thandi Makoni For the full story, order your copy of Get-up & Get-out Transformationstm@gmail.com +27 783015757.
“Come out of the closet, enough
is enough, your life matters it’s time to get up and-get out”
The right direction comes when one begins to place value on their life, walking in a manner that is self-loving and free of judgement-Thandi M
When I begin to reminisce about my life and how I have survived, I am perplexed at what could have been. In my book Get-up & Get-out: Finding the courage to end toxic relationships, I share my story of what I survived that could have otherwise left me in psychiatric ward with the keys thrown away. The world-wide estimate of women subjected to violence is about 1 in 3 women are living in a society where abuse is highly prevalent, a lived reality and often unspoken of.
What began as a tale of trauma, pain, and powerlessness has now become a testament to hope, resilience, courage, and self-discovery through love and forgiveness. Growing up in a highly unstable environment, I was fostered in eight different homes by family members. This dysfunction led to exposure of various forms of abuse, leaving me vulnerable, shattered,
Warrior Woman Magazine
Issue 1 :: April 2026