Caroline Peters is an African feminist, activist, and human rights defender. She spoke to SMF News’ Kuhle Mangana about her path to activism and the things that she is most passionate about.
It is a scorching hot day in Athlone, Cape Town. Caroline Peters walks into the reception area of the Callas Foundation. Dressed in a green print wrap dress and earrings shaped like the African continent, she holds a presence that cannot be ignored.
She heads over to her office and takes a seat.
Caroline Peters, an African feminist, activist, and human rights defender. She was recently appointed to the The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
Turning pain into purpose
“I was born into activism,” says Peters, who describes herself as a human rights defender and an activist. She grew up in a home full of comrades and anti-apartheid activists, including her father, John Peters.
Peters has been rewarded for her work in women’s activism, and won the Women’s Santam Award in 2025. This was not an award she expected, but one that she was very grateful for. For her, recognition was never the goal; helping the community was.
“I’ve been a leader since I was a child,” she says.
But her path to the work that she has devoted her life to has not been an easy one.
“I was gang-raped at the age of 16,” she says.
The violation occurred on 20 July, 1980. At the time, Peters received no support as a survivor of sexual assault. Instead, she faced widespread judgment, with blame and shame placed on her.
Her healing journey was a difficult one, she recalls. During this time, she was involved in a lot of promiscuity and partying.
Peters had her first therapy sessions when she was 22. At this age, she landed in a clinic where she was diagnosed with what is now known as bipolar disorder, but at the time was called manic depression.
When one is violated and hasn’t healed from the ordeal, they spiral out of control, Peters says. This becomes worse when victims don’t receive the support that they need. Because of the solid foundation her parents laid for her, she believes that she was able to change her life around.
Shaped by her past experiences, Peters is driven to provide victims with the support that she once lacked.
Caroline Peters, an activist and human rights defender, won the Santam Women’s Award for 2025. She won in the category for Social Entrepreneur and Readers’ Choice Awards. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
At the forefront of change
Peters is involved in many organisations, and most recently was selected to the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBWVF), a governmental body established to provide leadership in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.
“I am ready,” she says, about this new role.
A lot of the work she has done has been through the Callas Foundation, a non-governmental organisation established by Peters in 2018. It is a community-driven foundation aimed at fighting gender-based violence (GBV). Support is provided to victims through psycho-therapy, training, and prevention, as well as supporting vulnerable communities, says Peters. The foundation also does community outreach and school programmes, and offers preventative work for men.
The latter came after Peters was invited to one of the main prisons in the Western Cape in 2023, during her time as the chairperson of the GBV Committee of the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA). She felt that black men were dehumanised within the prison system, and thought: “I cannot do the work with women only. I have to do the preventative work to make sure our boys and men do not end up there.”
The foundation also runs a community kitchen. Peters says that she learnt that when food insecurity is present, then violence automatically increases.
“I didn’t know our community had such a big need for food,” says Mariam Arendse, the kitchen head at the community kitchen.
The programme director at the foundation, Phelisa Mashiyi, says that they have become a safe space for the community.
“Community members are now able to have difficult conversations around […] what their contribution is when they speak about empowerment and GBV,” Mashiyi says.
Who heals the healer?
In her work, Peters often deals with the trauma of others. How does she cope with this?
She sits back to reflect before answering.
“I have a supervision session every Friday morning,” she says, referring to a weekly session she has with her psychologist. She also has a life coach.
“I can’t do without it,” she says. At these sessions, she can let go and express how she is doing, in the process nurturing her own well-being.
Her faith also carries her. “I have prayer warriors behind me,” she says.
South African activist Caroline Peters’ nails embody the activist work that she does to fight gender-based violence. The index finger on the left has a fist icon, and the index finger on the right has a female symbol. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
Building a better world for the next generation
The Callas Foundation is situated in the same home that she grew up in.
“I was born here 62 years ago,” she says. Having the foundation in her home may be special, but one might wonder whether this allows her the opportunity to detach from work. She admits that she often finds herself in the ‘activist mode’. Yet, detaching is vital, else work will consume a lot of who she is.
“Last year, I had a heart attack, and this was […] due to work,” says Peters. “It was a very stressful period.”
Her doctor advised that she should not continue in the field of work she is in, because it is taking a toll on her. Peters pauses, then says: “This work is why I exist.”
When Peters was much younger, she wanted to become a chartered accountant. “I always thought that I was going to be rich,” she says. Instead, she let her passion lead her. That included wanting to give her children the life that she never had.
Family is an important part of Peters’ life.
“I don’t have time to be a mommy and a grandmother,” says Peters, adding that she is often busy with work.
Yet, Peters, a mother of three, is very intentional about family time. Therefore, she tries her best to forget about work when her husband and kids come home.
When asked about the things that make her happy, Peters’ eyes immediately light up: “My granddaughters!”
Her granddaughters are also a source of inspiration to make the world a better place.
“I want my granddaughters to be able to walk around safely,” says Peters.
“What drives me is justice,” Peter says. She reflects, then adds that this is because she did not get justice when she was raped 46 years ago.