SheBeen, first ever women-only-pop-up groove spot launched in Soweto

In commemoration of Women’s Day, a pop-up SheBeen exclusively for women was officially launched in Molapo.

The launch follows a discussions around raising awareness about the need for spaces where women can feel free, that took place a day before.

The project is driven by alcohol brand, Brutal Fruit Spritzer and located at the revamped RockerFella in Molapo, Soweto.

A female based venue inclusive and accessible to all women during the month of August.

Candice van de Bosch, acting head of brand at Brutal Fruit Spritzer said, “We are mindful of the importance of creating spaces where women can feel free to celebrate and have fun in an uninhibited way, which is why we have established a women-only-pop-up venue in Soweto named SheBeen.”

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The sad reality is that women do not always go out to comfortable spaces where they can enjoy themselves without worrying about their safety and without being objectified because of how they are dressed.

Therefore, it is this constant anxious feeling of thinking about their safety that denies woman a chance to completely enjoy themselves, leading them to move around with fear.

As a former underground poet performer Lebo Mashile, award winning poet, author, and activist explained what clubs taught her, “This means we move through the world very guarded.

“I cut my teeth in the clubs because they taught me fundamentally that I am not safe, that I need to be mindful of who I am with, of who is watching and where my drink is. I go to super vigilant mode.”

According to Lamiez Holworthy-Morule, a DJ, Metro host and TV presenter, these initiatives for women should not only be campaigned for the month of August and after that we move back to the norm.

“There’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable in a space where I should be at my happiest.

“I am my happiest when I DJ, when I’m on stage. Yet I feel uncomfortable because I see the men lusting over me,” she said.

Entertainment companies as well as organisations can only do as much in providing women with spaces that acknowledges their safety. But men have their role in assuring that women unwind freely without being objectified.

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Dr Musa Mthombeni, TV presenter and medical doctor speaks on the role of men in allowing women to have the female friendly spot in Soweto.

“Men should know that, just because she’s wearing the miniest of skirts and dancing on the table does not mean I am entitled to go and interact with her. I can enjoy from afar and leave it there,” said Dr Mthombeni. “It is a proactive education for men to reprimand each other and allow them to just be.”

This is a women-only establishment for ‘She’ to celebrate, for ‘She’ to have the sense of freedom, sense of unapologetic expression and a place of belonging.