JOHANNESBURG - In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to ending violence against women and children.
Key commitments included making the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide fully functional, strengthening support services for GBV survivors, expanding Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), increasing the number of GBV shelters and establishing additional sexual offences courts.
While these developments mark important structural progress, Dr Shadeda Omar from the Teddy Bear Clinic cautioned that outcomes for survivors still vary widely depending on geography, funding and system capacity.
Dr Omar unpacks what is working, what is not, and what still needs urgent attention.
Thuthuzela Care Centres and shelters: Progress with limits
Thuthuzela Care Centres-- one-stop facilities offering medical, psychosocial, legal and investigative services -- remain a cornerstone of South Africa’s GBV response. As of SONA 2025, 65 TCCs are operating nationwide.
"Evidence shows that TCCs have significantly improved access to care and reporting by reducing secondary victimisation (trauma caused by the system instead of the perpetrator),” said Dr Omar.
She noted that national data reflect strong conviction outcomes in cases originating from TCCs, with nearly 79 percent of sexual offences prosecutions resulting in imprisonment.
She said this is a strong indicator of case preparation quality.
Similarly, the establishment of GBV shelters in 44 of the country’s 52 districts represents a meaningful step toward survivor safety.
However, Dr Omar stressed that coverage remains uneven.
"Many rural and poorer districts still lack consistent access to TCCs, shelters, and specialised courts, forcing survivors to travel long distances,” she said.
Under-resourcing, staff shortages and limited follow-up care outside core services continue to undermine the effectiveness of both TCCs and shelters.
Sexual offences courts: Opened, but unevenly felt
Government has also moved ahead with the expansion of sexual offences courts.
By late 2025, the Department of Justice had established 16 new specialised courts, adding to the more than 80 -- and possibly over 100 -- already operating nationally.
"These courts are designed to reduce secondary trauma through victim-friendly environments, intermediary services for children, and faster case handling," Dr Omar explained.
Evidence suggests that when fully functional, sexual offences courts improve conviction rates and survivor participation.
However, she warned that access to justice remains inconsistent.
"While most courts have been opened, there are still gaps in rural and under-resourced regions in terms of physical infrastructure and trained personnel," she said.
Justice outcomes depend on more than courts
While specialised courts can improve justice outcomes, Dr Omar emphasised that they are not a standalone solution.
"Survivors still encounter delays in police investigations, poor feedback, and intimidation that can deter reporting. Transport, childcare, lost wages, and stigma continue to block many survivors from attending court consistently," she said.
Dr Omar said sexual offences courts can improve justice outcomes but must be paired with timely investigation, victim support, and community trust initiatives to truly be effective.
Key gaps government must address
Despite legislative and structural advances, Dr Omar identified several unresolved challenges:
Unequal access: Many districts still lack reliable access to TCCs, shelters and specialised courts.
Enforcement and follow-up: Conviction rates are improving, but survivors often cite a lack of feedback and slow enforcement of protection orders.
Systemic barriers: Inconsistent police responsiveness and chronic resource shortages continue to strain services.
She also highlighted the need for stronger focus on children’s issues, including pregnant child learners, low conviction rates in child abuse cases and increased funding for the child protection sector.
What would matter in SONA 2026
Looking ahead, Dr Omar said meaningful progress would require concrete, measurable commitments in the next SONA.
Service expansion and infrastructure: Clear timelines for achieving full national coverage of TCCs, shelters, and sexual offences courts and dedicated funding to scale victim support services and safe transport for survivors.
Justice system efficiency: Faster case turnaround targets for police and prosecutors. Mandatory survivor feedback protocols so victims are kept informed. Public reporting on case outcomes and timelines to build accountability.
Community and prevention programmes: Nationwide investment in education programmes tackling gender norms and GBV prevention as well as support for economic empowerment of survivors to reduce barriers to leaving abusive environments.
Legislative strengthening: Review of protection order enforcement and public access to parts of the National Register for Sexual Offenders, with safeguards.