There’s nowhere to hide in a Blockhouse photoshoot – especially when everyone in the line-up is singing happy birthday to yoooo! Which was a gift for meeee. But there were so many gifts on this first-of-the-month Blocktober Sunday Solidarity Walk, I’d like to share some.
The first was arriving at the Chelmsford starting point to witness the Saartjie Bus and so many smiling faces, strong legs – pairs of two and four - and above all, support and care.
Further along, the next gift was stopping to admire the magnificent views that take away what breath you have left after the increasingly steep incline. And then there were the shady spot stops, ahhh - especially the one at that big ole’ tree just before the final ascent, as well as the even bigger one that falls at the back of the Blockhouse itself. Magic!
Of course, a special gift, as the owner of one of the four-legged pack, was to see how much the dogs were enjoying themselves – in muddy puddles, sharing shady spots, other people snacks and pats. An extra special gift for me was the young man who thoughtfully sprinkled my very hot dog with water from his own bottle, cupping some in his hand so she could drink it. And a must-mention on the four-legger front is the gift of gratitude to the friend who sat in yet another shady spot waiting with my dog, who I had temporarily mislaid.
It was a gift indeed to see the lit-up faces of those tucking into snack packs and sharing coffee and naartjies, as well as the faces of Bernadine and Jean as they too lit-up encountering one another at the Block. While there is sometimes in life, a time to walk alone, nothing compares with walking and talking with someone else - each and every conversation is a gift, like reading a new chapter from an unknown book.
I was especially touched by the gift of the extremely smart and stylish Saartjie B Centre buff which will elevate my wardrobe no end (thank you Bernadine!), photographed amongst the spring flowers punctuating the path – and I think all of us, irrespective of age, energy and fitness levels, would agree that the closing downward slope is a matchless gift, especially knowing that you’ll soon be able to sit down and take your shoes off.
I am in awe of all those who walked together on this day, especially those for whom it was a first – and to all those who cycled, walked or swam in solidarity, wherever you may be, what gifts you are. And to those who organized it all – respect!!
Camino Blocktober – from South Africa to Spain, against gender-based violence. Summary of discussion with Antonio, UGT Asturias – Oviedo, 30 September 2026
“More than 1,000 women murdered (and they are not all represented here). Less sexism + more equality = less violence.” This banner at UGT Asturias captures much of what Antonio spoke about in our interview: remembering women killed by gender-based violence, challenging the attitudes and inequalities that sustain it, and recognising that greater equality is part of preventing violence.
As part of our Camino Blocktober initiative, we met Antonio, a representative of UGT (Union of General Workers) Asturias, in Oviedo on 30 September, the day before beginning our Camino Primitivo. The purpose of the discussion was to learn about the experience of gender-based violence in Spain and Asturias.
Antonio and Lala
We explained that Blocktober is a Cape Town-based movement against gender-based violence, and that during October people walk, run, cycle and swim in solidarity with survivors and to raise awareness and funds.
Our Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago is intended to create small connections of international solidarity between organisations and individuals responding to gender-based violence.
Antonio welcomed the exchange. He provided us with information and material relating to equality and support for women and offered to pass information about Camino Blocktober to the UGT Asturias colleague responsible specifically for women's issues.
The central message we took from the discussion was simple but important: protecting women from violence requires much more than responding to an immediate crisis. Safety, psychological recovery, legal protection and economic independence all need to work together if survivors are to have genuine freedom and choices.
Gender-based violence is wider than a workplace issue
Antonio explained that UGT's work extends well beyond its traditional role of representing workers. It is also involved in issues affecting women, migrants, vulnerable people and the LGTQI community, including violence and discrimination.
He emphasised that gender inequality continues to be visible in working life. Women can still earn less than men for comparable work, while many women also continue to carry a disproportionate share of unpaid household and caring responsibilities. His view was that, although there has been progress towards equality, progress remains much too slow.
Economic inequality, discrimination at work, dependence within households and violence are not separate problems; they can reinforce one another.
Remembering women killed by gender-based violence
Antonio described one particularly visible action in Oviedo. On the last Tuesday of every month, people gather outside the courthouse for a minute's silence in memory of women killed through gender-based violence.
He explained the importance of continuing to mark each death publicly, rather than allowing repeated killings to become something society simply becomes accustomed to. The action is both an act of remembrance and a public statement that violence against women must end.
The particular vulnerability of migrant women
A substantial part of Antonio's work involves migrants settling in Spain, and he spoke about the particular difficulties faced by migrant women. For some women, gender inequality, insecure migration circumstances and economic dependence overlap, making them especially vulnerable. In some instances, migration itself represents an attempt to obtain freedoms that were unavailable to them in their country.
His broader point was that violence against women takes very different forms in different countries and circumstances, but the underlying questions of power, dependence and women's ability to exercise control over their own lives are often strikingly similar.
Support available in Asturias
Antonio spoke about the network of institutions in Asturias that provide assistance to women experiencing gender-based violence. He referred particularly to the Instituto de la Mujer and Casa Malva. Casa Malva provides accommodation for women affected by gender-based violence, including women and their children who do not have somewhere safe to go. They provide comprehensive support including:
safe accommodation;
psychological support;
legal and judicial assistance;
help with employment; and
support towards becoming economically independent.
UGT works with and alongside these institutions and refers or assists women who need such support.
Economic independence as part of escaping violence
One of the strongest areas of common ground in our discussion was the importance of economic independence.
Antonio agreed that a woman may be physically able to leave an abusive relationship, but if she has no independent income, employment prospects or means of supporting herself and her children, her choices remain severely constrained. Economic dependence can therefore become one of the mechanisms that keeps women trapped in abusive circumstances.
This closely parallels the approach of the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children. The Centre provides shelter and psychosocial support, but also places considerable emphasis on skills development, employment and entrepreneurship because economic independence is an important part of building a sustainable life after abuse.
This is also why Camino Blocktober and the wider Blocktober campaign are raising funds specifically to support the economic empowerment of survivors of gender-based violence in Cape Town.
A wider international concern
Antonio also placed gender-based violence within a wider international context. We discussed increasing hostility towards women, hate speech and political currents that can undermine progress on equality and human rights.
The discussion reinforced the idea behind our Camino: while the social and institutional circumstances in Spain and South Africa are very different, violence against women is not a problem confined by national borders. There are important differences in scale, resources and support systems, but there are also strong common themes — inequality, economic dependence, discrimination, vulnerability and the need for society to refuse to normalise GBV.
You can watch the full video interview with Antonio here.
Is this how it should be? Five days of Camino Blocktober
Written by Lala Steyn
I’m writing this after having experienced:
Five days of continuous walking close to 100km on the Camino Primitivo — the oldest of the ancient pilgrimage routes across Spain to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela — following in the footsteps of pilgrims since the 9th century.
Foraging for food - literally through collecting walnuts, chestnuts and wild apples, and also "foraging" intellectually when trying to navigate the Spanish supermarchado (supermarkets) and menus.
Moments of generosity such as when sheltering from rain, an elderly woman invited me in to take free apples and walnuts, or when the waiter at an albergue told me the best places to stop on the route for “sin gluten” (gluten-free) food.
Quietness when walking totally alone for kilometres (I am on this path with my husband Dawie and many other pilgrims).
Walking at night through dark streets to drink a local Sidra (cider) alone.
Being passed by young strong women walking by themselves, who greet me with a cheerful “Buen Camino” ("Have a good Camino").
I have no fear.
I feel safe.
I feel free.
I feel blessed.
Is this how it is meant to be for women everywhere? For children? For all?
I know I’m in a bubble.
I know there is gender based violence in Spain, maybe even in some of the homes I have passed.
BUT WHY can we not make our world such, where we as women can walk freely? Yes, surely we can “be the change, that we want to see in the world.”
Join Blocktober every day in October, in solidarity with survivors of Gender Based Violence, by finding out more about our activities here and signing up to swim, run, walk or cycle here.
Written by Andiswa Siwela | Mountaineer & Organiser, Kloof Corner Climb Against GBV 19 September 2026 | Kloof Corner, Table Mountain
On the 19th of September as mountaineers we climbed Kloof Corner Mountain.
We did not climb alone. We intentionally invited beginners and people who had never been on the mountain before. We wanted to show that this fight belongs to everyone.
Look at us in this photo we are not the same age, same race or same fitness level but we sat on those rocks together because we share the same fear and the same hope.
Why We Climbed
We climbed because of Gender-Based Violence.
We climbed for Elizabeth who was murdered and for eight other women who were murdered. We climbed to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
We wanted to remind Government that they must start taking us seriously as people, especially as women. GBV is more publicised when it affects women but men are also being murdered and often their cases are not loud enough. This is a human crisis, not just a women's crisis.
Why The Mountain
We chose the mountain to remind everyone who loves to walk, run and hike.
Please do not walk alone.
1. Always tell at least two people where you are going.
2. Use safety devices and apps that share your live location and can send an alert.
3. Update your people whenever you can.
But this is not the life we want, we want to be free, we want to walk without fear.
Right now we live in fear we are scared to walk outside we ask ourselves, "When am I next?" Because it was someone else yesterday we don't know when it will be our day. This fear is making us lose our trust and we don't want to lose our kindness because of people who kill.
The mountain was about saying we will not lose our kindness but we must be more safe and communicate better.
Our Call to Government
Government is ignoring us they are not acting. They are not taking real action to stop what is happening they only react to what they hear on the news and then they stop. They are not doing the work they are not working hard enough to protect us.
This climb was to help each other to love each other and to remind everyone that this fight is not for one person, not for one race it is for every human being.
We need action not just words.
For Elizabeth. We climbed for you. We will not forget.
In the wake of the murders of women on the East Rand in September 2026, groups of women across South Africa joined together in protest at this scourge.
Join Blocktober every day in October, in solidarity with survivors of Gender Based Violence, by finding out more about our activities here and signing up to swim, run, walk or cycle here.
Perfect windless weather this morning made great conditions for our group of about twenty-five Blocktober and Saartjie Baartman walkers to feel safe enough, strong enough and free enough to walk together to the Blockhouse. Something like the weaving together of the braids on the mural at Saartjie Baartman Centre. We enjoyed many conversations giving insight into each other's lives, meetings with new and old connections, an encouragement up the hill for those who were doing it for the first time, a retelling of the challenges of previous walks like the uphill of Platteklip Gorge and a singing of happy birthday at the top.
The original image of the mural has been printed onto dark blue for a buff, soon obtainable from Saartjie Baartman Centre as part of their Entrepreneurship Hub, which is supported by fundraising by Blocktober.
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