Following the end of Women’s Month in South Africa (SA) on Monday, the government says a new national council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) will co-ordinate the country’s response to the crisis.
The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says the National Council on GBVF will bring together different sectors to coordinate efforts to tackle GBVF.
She was briefing journalists in Pretoria, Gauteng, Province, on progress in establishing the council.
The Human Science Research council’s first SA national GBVF study indicates that approximately 7.3 million women have experienced physical violence during their lifetime.
The study found that the prevalence of sexual violence by a lifetime partner is twice as high for women with disabilities compared to those without.
In 2025, the government classified GBVF as a national disaster as the threat to women’s life and safety has become persistent and systemic.
The Council is made up of representatives from various sectors including survivors, women movement, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and government to eradicate GBVF.
Speaking at the briefing, Chikunga, says the Council’s role is to ensure that SA’s response to GBVF is coherent, impactful and promote accountability.
–Thuto Ngobeni/ ChannelAfrca–
