He may be best known for his love songs, but Michael Bolton is also a champion of women's causes.

The Grammy Award-winning singer was in South Africa for two performances that coincided with Women's Day activities hosted by Sun International.

Speaking after a sold-out show at Carnival City in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg, Bolton said he was pleased that his visit had coincided with Women's Day.

He supports various charities catering for women and children affected by domestic violence, poverty, neglect and homelessness through Michael Bolton Charities Inc, which he founded 19 years ago.

''I was raised by a single mother and I have three daughters, so it does not take much to get me on board on issues of equality, safety and the protection of women," said the 58-year-old whose hits includeWhen a man Loves a Woman and I Said I Loved You But I Lied.

Bolton said international statistics on violence against women were heartbreaking.

''It is a human rights issue, and we are trying hard to express that violence against women is not an issue for the impoverished. The issue is also in the affluent areas ... these women are ashamed to report it because it threatens their way of living."

Voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man in his 50s" in 2010, he said he was now shifting his awareness campaigns to men so they would understand the need for "zero tolerance of violence against women".

''You cannot be a man if you are violent with a woman ... a real man stops it from happening if he is aware of it."