Ilitha Labantu was founded in February 1989 by Mandisa Monakali.  Ilitha Labantu saw its birth in the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town. At that time it was the only organization in any black township of Cape Town providing emotional support, practical advice and education around the problem of violence against women.  The organization developed out of hands of Mandisa Monakali and dedicated community workers of a handful committed women from  the township who were not able to find somewhere to go for their needs.
While there are other organizations in Cape Town, which deal with this issue, their services are not easily accessible to  victims in township communities.  Their geographical location is far from where most black women live and the predominant language used by these organizations is English while most women in the townships around Cape Town speak Xhosa as their first language.  These barriers prevent women in the township communities from making use of the services.

It is undeniable that rape, battering and sexual abuse of women and children are widespread and ongoing problems which affect all women.  However, black women are most severely affected due to lack of resources and access to services.  There is a need for such services to be established in the townships and in rural areas.
Globally, women continue to face gender oppression physically, economically, emotionally, socially and culturally.  Nowhere in the world do women, in practice, have equal rights to men.  Yet, women constitute half of the world's population and perform nearly two thirds of its work.

What we believe
We believe that everyone has a right to live in safety and to have a future without fear. 

Our aims are to:
- Empower women who have been affected by domestic violence.
- Meet the needs of women and children affected by domestic violence.
- Provide services run by women which are based on listening to survivors.
- Challenge the disadvantages which result from domestic violence.
- Support and reflect diversity and promote equality of opportunity. 
- Promote cohesive inter-agency responses to domestic violence and develop partnerships.