“Enough is Enough” – song against GBV finally put to use

27 November 2022

It took four individuals to compile and record a powerful song against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) titled: Enough is Enough, which took two years to get out into the world for the message to be heard.

Lynda Smith, the visionary behind the project approached her friend and Producer, Brenton Goldman, for help. She never ever thought that not a single government department, organisation or establishment would take them up on their offer to use the song.

Out of frustration she contacted the administrators of the SA Women Fight Back Facebook-page, who helped the group to make a video to accompany their song. It was on this group that Smith read about MISA in a story about MISA member Nicoleen Swart, MISA’s Face against GBV.

Smith sent an e-mail to Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations and the rest is history. Keyter immediately decided to use the song for #MISA’s GBV campaign.

“This song is part of my personal journey. Brenton (Goldman) did his magic with the words, his wife, Humencia, did the vocals. David van der Schyff was the rapper and Timothy Kok composed the music. We are just ordinary South African’s who feel very passionate about combatting GBV,” says Smith.

Goldman says all of them “poured our hearts” into this project because they want to make a difference and end the violence.  They started with the song amidst the first hard lockdown in the covid-19 pandemic during March 2020 when most GBV victims had no escape from their assaulters.

For them the words of the song resonates in their hearts.

Kok says that he knows two men who have lost themselves in abusive relationships. “They are both a shadow of their former self. It is crazy. Men are also victims of GBV, but they don’t speak-up because of the stigma that they are cowards if they do.”

Goldman agrees that men tend to keep quiet to protect the image of the family and the society at large, they have of their partner. “Men are conditioned to the belief that cowboys don’t cry. That is part of the reason why the GBV circle is never-ending,” says Goldman.

Keyter is asking MISA members to share this song on social media platforms and to ensure that its message is spread across the world in the fight against GBV. “We need the support of all MISA members to ensure this song never ends.”

Smith thanked MISA for collaborating with them.

“We are humbled by your kindness and commitment to highlight the destruction and turmoil caused by the GBV pandemic. We look forward to embarking on this journey,” she says.

#MISACARES #MISAONTHEMOVE #MISAFAMILY #GBV #SpeakUp #NicoleenSwart