GBVF was classified as a National Disaster on 20 November 2025 - NOW WE DEMAND IMPLEMENTATION, FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

More than 1.1 million people demanded change. Together, we achieved a historic victory. Now we demand that the South African government deliver on its responsibility to protect women and children.

WE MADE HISTORY. NOW DEMOCRACY MUST DELIVER. On 23 January 2025, Women For Change launched this petition demanding that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) be classified as a National Disaster.

More than 1.1 million people signed our petition. Through sustained advocacy, the Purple Movement and our historic G20 Women's Shutdown, we mobilised South Africa to demand urgent government intervention.

On 20 November 2025, GBVF was officially classified as a National Disaster. The Government Gazette published the classification on 24 November 2025 under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act.

We demanded recognition. We achieved it. But recognition was never the end goal.

Almost one year later, women and children continue to be raped, murdered and failed by the very systems designed to protect them. Despite government commitments, South Africa still lacks a comprehensive, publicly accessible and fully costed National Disaster implementation plan, supported by a dedicated budget and clear accountability from the Presidency.

In September 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced further commitments, including audits of unresolved GBVF cases, recovery plans and public progress reporting. These commitments must now translate into measurable results.

A deadline is not delivery. A promise is not protection.

Ending GBVF is not only about women's safety. It is a matter of human rights, justice and democratic accountability. A democracy cannot promise equality, dignity and freedom while women and children continue to live under the constant threat of violence.

OUR DEMAND NOW: IMPLEMENTATION, FUNDING AND PRESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITY BY 21 NOVEMBER 2026.
By 21 November 2026, the Presidency must publish a fully costed GBVF National Disaster implementation plan with a dedicated, transparent budget and appoint a national leader responsible for overseeing its implementation and ensuring accountability across government departments.

The plan must include:

• Immediate protection measures to strengthen policing, survivor safety and access to justice.
• Measurable 12-month targets for investigations, prosecutions, convictions, forensic services, prevention and survivor support.
• Complete annual femicide and child murder statistics for 2024/25 and 2025/26.
• Dedicated and transparent funding, identifying existing allocations, additional resources and actual expenditure.
• Long-term commitments through 2030, aligned with the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.
• Clear responsibilities, implementation deadlines and measurable outcomes, supported by quarterly public reporting, independent oversight and a publicly accessible accountability dashboard.
• Our original petition demands remain, including stronger justice and bail protections, comprehensive GBVF and consent education, reforms to the National Register for Sex Offenders, adequately funded shelters and survivor-support services, and accountability across the criminal justice system.

We are not replacing our original demands. We are demanding they finally implement them.

WOMEN’S SHUTDOWN 2026: OUR RIGHTS. OUR VOICES. OUR DEMOCRACY.

On Saturday, 21 November 2026, Women For Change will mobilise South Africa again, calling on women, members of the LGBTQI+ community and allies to withdraw from economic activities where possible.

In 2025, we demanded recognition. In 2026, we demand implementation, funding and accountability.

The classification was our victory. Implementation is the government's responsibility.

Support Women For Change's work with survivors and families affected by GBVF. Donate here: https://womenforchange.co.za/donate/