Advocacy organisation Women for Change is calling on government to provide clear details on how it plans to implement the classification of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster, warning that progress remains unclear months after the declaration.
In a statement, the group noted that more than 11 weeks have passed since GBVF was formally declared a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act on 20 November 2025. Despite the designation, it said survivors and communities have yet to see a coordinated plan of action.
“Survivors and the public are still waiting for a clear roadmap, operational direction, and transparent communication about how this national disaster will translate into a meaningful reduction in the high levels of violence against women and children,” the organisation said.
Women for Change stressed that the declaration must result in tangible interventions, including funding, improved support services, and stronger protective measures, rather than remain a symbolic gesture.
The group also identified the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a critical opportunity for President Cyril Ramaphosa to outline government’s strategy and explain how the disaster classification will be implemented in practical terms.
“A national disaster is not a symbolic classification. It is a promise to act,” the statement read. “Survivors are waiting to see whether this government will match its words with funding, structure, and measurable protection.”
GBVF remains one of South Africa’s most pressing social challenges, with advocacy groups continuing to press for urgent and sustained action to curb violence against women and children.