As foreign students at the University of Pretoria engaged in postgraduate studies on Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, we are deeply concerned about the ominous epidemic of femicide in South Africa. This issue is not just a nationwide tragedy, but a personal one, as each day on average, 15 women fall victim to this heartless crime. The gravity of this situation becomes even more stark when we realize that one woman is murdered every 96 minutes in this nation. In the time it takes to finish your daily routine, 15 lives disappear lives of those who may be domestic or foreign women, all becoming part of this distressing statistic.

The South African government has acknowledged the severity of this issue by declaring it a national disaster, yet despite having the necessary laws, policies, and a constitutional framework aimed at protecting women, the killer statistics remain alarmingly high. The country’s legislation and Constitution Section 12(1)(c) affirms every woman’s right to live free from violence, yet the ineffective implementation of these principles means symbolic commitments without actual protection.

Our petition urges the South African government to take decisive action and fulfill the obligations under the national disaster declaration on femicide. This includes not only routine policy formulations but also their effective execution. We call for the government to ensure that mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation are strengthened to reflect responsive and accountable strategies that genuinely tackle femicide.

Concrete actions must include expedited legal proceedings for perpetrators, enhanced resources for the victims, and education to shift societal norms that tolerate gender-based violence. Law enforcement agencies need to be trained and equipped to handle these cases sensitively and justly. We also advocate for awareness-raising campaigns that foster public understanding of every woman's right to safety and the collective responsibility to protect it.

This is not just a plea from concerned students; it is a call for justice and protection for all women in South Africa. We demand that individuals, regardless of their status, be assured of safety in this country. Stand with us, and let’s push for tangible change because it’s high time this nation translates policies into lived realities for its women.

We urge you to sign this petition now. Take action with us to call upon the South African government to uphold our shared human rights and ensure that the constitutional promise of a violence-free existence for all women in South Africa is genuinely realized.