The GOOD Party, GBVF and Women's Rights said South Africa “cannot afford to normalize or platform known abusers”.
The GOOD party said it was concerned about the message Chris Brown's December concert would send to South Africans.
Tickets for the American singer's upcoming concert at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium sold out in less than three hours earlier this month.
The concert, scheduled for December 14, 2024, is part of Brown's highly anticipated tour of South Africa.
“The GOOD party joins GBVF and women's rights activists in demanding 'no stage for abusers',” the party said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Don't be silent. Please speak.”
“GOOD is running a massive anti-GBVF campaign called 'Don't be silent. Speak Up' and now we all need to tell our stories. “Given the GBVF pandemic in South Africa, art cannot be separated from artists,” the organizations said.
Recent crime statistics (April 2024 to June 2024) show a year-on-year increase in contact crimes against women. At least 966 women were murdered and more than 13,000 incidents of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm were reported in the three-month period.
Also read: Chris Brown: Why give abusers a platform?
The GOOD Party, GBVF and Women's Rights said South Africa “cannot afford to normalize or platform known abusers”.
“We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we take gender-based violence (GBV) seriously. His performance marked the end of the country's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. It is scheduled for the next few days.
“The fight against GBVF (gender-based violence and femicide) is not just about bold actions taken by governments, but rather the decisions ordinary citizens make every day,” they said.
GBV
The GOOD Party, GBVF and Women's Rights called on concert organizers and those planning to attend Brown's concerts to think about “what it means to put a man like him on a pedestal”.
“Now is the time for us to stand up as a collective voice and say no to abuse.”
Brown is a serial offender. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault after abusing his ex-girlfriend and fellow musician Rihanna.
In 2017, a judge granted a restraining order against ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran after she received threats of violence. Brown faces multiple other abuse allegations.
Also read: Johannesburg show sold out within 3 hours, Chris Brown breaks record, adds additional dates