By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of women, youth and persons with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga on Tuesday, officially declared the 2025 16 Days of Activism campaign open and launched the five-year review of the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
Chikunga made the remarks at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Midrand, Johannesburg.
The Minister said the 16 Days period must be more than an annual symbol; it must drive accountability, urgency and collective action.
The campaign is being held under the theme: “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End GBVF”, with a sub-theme emphasising the role of arts, film and media in preventing violence.
Chikunga noted that Saturday’s G20 Leaders’ Declaration adopted in Johannesburg reaffirmed a global commitment to ending violence against women and girls, and expanding access to economic opportunities.
She pledged to ensure full implementation of the declaration adopted at the Group of 20 (G20) summit to end violence against women and girls.
“The G20 Leaders’ Declaration adopted in Johannesburg reaffirmed the global commitment to women’s and girls’ empowerment, condemned all forms of violence, online and offline, and called for stronger action to eradicate sexual violence and harassment. Our task now is to implement it boldly at home,” she said.
The minister noted that despite years of interventions and legislation, GBVF remains deeply entrenched, with cases rising over weekends, paydays and in communities heavily affected by alcohol abuse.
Drawing on major research findings, including the HSRC [Human Sciences Research Council]-led GBVF Prevalence Study, Chikunga painted a stark picture of women’s lived realities:
- 33.1% of women and girls have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
- 27% have experienced physical or sexual violence by a non-partner since age 15.
- 7.9% of ever-partnered women have survived sexual violence from a partner.
- 20.5% of ever-partnered men admitted to perpetrating physical or sexual intimate partner violence.
South African Police Service (SAPS) data continue to show tens of thousands of sexual offences reported annually, with spikes on weekends, paydays and communities with high concentrations of liquor outlets.
South Africa has established 66 Thuthuzela Care Centers, one-stop facilities that have been introduced as a critical part of the country’s anti-rape strategy, over 1,100 victim-friendly rooms at police stations, and more than 1,200 dedicated gender-based violence and femicide desks, she said.
We’re also localising the NSP. Over 40,000 GBVF rapid response teams, in fact, 49 of them, have been established across districts and municipalities.
“Through 100 Days Challenge and the National Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Dashboard, communities have shown that where and when we focus together, we can unblock cases, speed up protection orders, and strengthen coordination in months, not years.”