Make sanitary pads affordable for all girls
The Issue
Growing up in a rural area of South Africa, I've witnessed firsthand how the high cost of sanitary pads can have devastating effects. Many girls miss school every month simply because they can't afford the basic menstrual products they need. This is an issue that hits close to home for me because I've seen friends and family struggle to manage their periods with dignity.
Access to affordable sanitary pads is not just a convenience; it's a necessity. In South Africa, where the gap between different income households is significant, menstrual hygiene products cannot be a luxury. For many families living below the poverty line, purchasing a pack of sanitary pads, which can cost over R50, is unaffordable. Our girls deserve better.
It's disheartening to know that these young women face multiple barriers to education and health due to something as natural and unavoidable as menstruation. Education is a fundamental right, and lack of access to menstrual products should not be a barrier to it. This can lead not only to physical discomfort but also to further marginalization within their schools and communities.
We demand that the South African government intervene by regulating the price of sanitary pads, ensuring that no pack costs more than R30. Additionally, more subsidies could be provided for menstruation products and perhaps, tax-free sanitary items should become standard.
Other countries have already taken progressive steps in this realm. For instance, Scotland made headlines by providing free period products to anyone in need, setting a powerful example of how we can prioritize women's health and education.
It's time to adopt similar measures in South Africa to ensure every girl has the right to manage her period with dignity. Join me in urging the government to protect this right by signing this petition. Together, we can put pressure on policy-makers to take immediate action and make sanitary pads affordable for all girls in our country.
Sign the petition and help make a change that will empower future generations of women in South Africa.
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The Issue
Growing up in a rural area of South Africa, I've witnessed firsthand how the high cost of sanitary pads can have devastating effects. Many girls miss school every month simply because they can't afford the basic menstrual products they need. This is an issue that hits close to home for me because I've seen friends and family struggle to manage their periods with dignity.
Access to affordable sanitary pads is not just a convenience; it's a necessity. In South Africa, where the gap between different income households is significant, menstrual hygiene products cannot be a luxury. For many families living below the poverty line, purchasing a pack of sanitary pads, which can cost over R50, is unaffordable. Our girls deserve better.
It's disheartening to know that these young women face multiple barriers to education and health due to something as natural and unavoidable as menstruation. Education is a fundamental right, and lack of access to menstrual products should not be a barrier to it. This can lead not only to physical discomfort but also to further marginalization within their schools and communities.
We demand that the South African government intervene by regulating the price of sanitary pads, ensuring that no pack costs more than R30. Additionally, more subsidies could be provided for menstruation products and perhaps, tax-free sanitary items should become standard.
Other countries have already taken progressive steps in this realm. For instance, Scotland made headlines by providing free period products to anyone in need, setting a powerful example of how we can prioritize women's health and education.
It's time to adopt similar measures in South Africa to ensure every girl has the right to manage her period with dignity. Join me in urging the government to protect this right by signing this petition. Together, we can put pressure on policy-makers to take immediate action and make sanitary pads affordable for all girls in our country.
Sign the petition and help make a change that will empower future generations of women in South Africa.
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Petition created on 8 September 2026