Following a historic 3-day “Grandmother’s Gathering in Durban in July 2016 – an event supported by Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF), an idea to establish a grandmother’s movement in South Africa emerged during the gathering, grandmothers from across South Africa and beyond attended workshops and discussed their concerns and rights, shared experiences and identified their needs.
Grandmothers wrote a joint statement to call on government and civil society groups to formally recognize the rights of all grandmothers.
The statement was presented on the eve of the 2016 World AIDS Conference in Durban by more than 1000 Gogos who marched to the conference in front of a global media audience.
21 Community-based organizations took part in the gatherings and the march. Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, the United Nations’ former Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, African Women’s Development Fund CEO, Theo Sowa and other high-profile guests were present to receive the statement and key political leaders took note.
Then the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, responded on national television that the Government was listening.
Two Years later, South African Grandmother’s Movement (GMISA) developed from being an idea to being a structure that is supported by and elected Executive Committee of 7 Grandmothers.
