JOHANNESBURG – Advocacy group Women for Change says it is seeking clarity on how government is implementing the classification of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster.
In a statement, the organisation said more than 11 weeks have passed since GBVF was officially declared a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act on 20 November 2025.
"Survivors and the public are still waiting for a coordinated roadmap, operational clarity, 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 statement read.
It said SONA will be a key moment for President Cyril Ramaphosa to outline government’s priorities and detail how the disaster classification will be operationalised.
"A national disaster is not a symbolic classification. It is a promise to act. Survivors are waiting to see whether this government will match its words with funding, structure, and measurable protection."