TITLE: Amend Our Laws To Protect Women & Children - Enforce Life Sentences and Real Protection Under The Constitution

TO: The President of South Africa, Parliament, and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development

We, the women and allies of South Africa, are tired. We have marched. We have worn purple. We have lit candles. We have changed how we dress, where we walk, who we trust. We have shared our locations. And we are still dying.

The Constitution promises us the right to equality (Section 9), human dignity (Section 10), life (Section 11), freedom from all forms of violence (Section 12), and protection for our children (Section 28). Those rights are not being felt on the ground.

We declared GBVF a national disaster on 20 November 2025, but women and children are still being raped and murdered every day. A disaster needs a real response — not just a declaration.

WE THEREFORE DEMAND:

1. MANDATORY LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR:
a) Repeat offenders convicted of rape, attempted femicide, or assault GBH against women and children.
b) Any person convicted of rape and murder, child rape, gang rape, or the murder of a woman or child where rape was committed.
Remove judicial discretion for lesser sentences in these cases.

2. ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTION WITH BUDGET AND COURTS:
a) Fully fund and rollout Sexual Offences Courts in every district.
b) Clear the DNA backlog and ensure rape kits are available at all Thuthuzela Care Centres within 24 hours.
c) No bail for repeat GBV offenders and an electronic national register for protection order violations.

3. MONTHLY PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY:
Publish monthly data on GBV cases reported, protection orders issued and enforced, convictions, and shelters funded. We cannot fix what you do not measure.

We have done everything to stay safe. Now do your part to keep us alive.

We will not be silenced. We will not stop until our constitutional rights mean something in real life.

[Mamohau Fortunate Phawe ]

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