Make menstrual pads free for all in South African girls & woman
The Issue
Every month, countless women and girls in South Africa face a crisis that is often overlooked — the lack of access to menstrual pads. For many, the cost of sanitary products is simply unbearable, leading to desperate and undignified situations when their period arrives. Something as basic and essential as a menstrual pad should never be a luxury.
As a man, I will never know what it is like to have a period, but I have seen what happens when the women and girls in our communities cannot afford pads. I have seen my sisters, my cousins, my classmates, and neighbours have to borrow, stay home, and miss out on life because of something they have no control over. Their anxiety and embarrassment is something no one in South Africa should have to experience.
This story is not unique. It is the daily reality for many young girls and women across our country who are forced into these circumstances out of sheer economic pressure.
According to a study by the South African Medical Journal, an estimated 30% of girls in South Africa miss school when menstruating simply because they lack access to sanitary products. This means days of learning lost every month. It means missed exams, dropped confidence, and a wider gap in opportunities between boys and girls. If pads were provided for free, these girls could attend school with dignity and focus on building their future.
In 2020, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for all. If they can do it, so can we. South Africa has always stood for human rights and equality. Providing free menstrual products in public places such as schools, universities, clinics, and community centres is a practical, affordable, and powerful step our government can take.
This is not just a women's issue - it is a human issue. It is about dignity, education, health, and equal opportunity for all South Africans.
I am calling on the South African government to make menstrual pads free for all who need them. Investing in free pads is investing in the future of our sisters, our mothers, and our nation.
Please sign this petition and support the movement to ensure that no girl or woman in South Africa is left behind because she cannot afford a pad.
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The Issue
Every month, countless women and girls in South Africa face a crisis that is often overlooked — the lack of access to menstrual pads. For many, the cost of sanitary products is simply unbearable, leading to desperate and undignified situations when their period arrives. Something as basic and essential as a menstrual pad should never be a luxury.
As a man, I will never know what it is like to have a period, but I have seen what happens when the women and girls in our communities cannot afford pads. I have seen my sisters, my cousins, my classmates, and neighbours have to borrow, stay home, and miss out on life because of something they have no control over. Their anxiety and embarrassment is something no one in South Africa should have to experience.
This story is not unique. It is the daily reality for many young girls and women across our country who are forced into these circumstances out of sheer economic pressure.
According to a study by the South African Medical Journal, an estimated 30% of girls in South Africa miss school when menstruating simply because they lack access to sanitary products. This means days of learning lost every month. It means missed exams, dropped confidence, and a wider gap in opportunities between boys and girls. If pads were provided for free, these girls could attend school with dignity and focus on building their future.
In 2020, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for all. If they can do it, so can we. South Africa has always stood for human rights and equality. Providing free menstrual products in public places such as schools, universities, clinics, and community centres is a practical, affordable, and powerful step our government can take.
This is not just a women's issue - it is a human issue. It is about dignity, education, health, and equal opportunity for all South Africans.
I am calling on the South African government to make menstrual pads free for all who need them. Investing in free pads is investing in the future of our sisters, our mothers, and our nation.
Please sign this petition and support the movement to ensure that no girl or woman in South Africa is left behind because she cannot afford a pad.
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Petition created on 8 September 2026