CIVICUS discusses South Africa’s recent declaration of gender-based violence (GBV) as a national disaster with Cameron Kasambala, student and spokesperson for Women for Change, a South African civil society organisation that works to raise awareness of violence against women and children.

Following sustained pressure from feminist movements, the government of South Africa declared GBV and femicide a national disaster in November. The declaration was a milestone in a long campaign to secure coordinated state action and emergency funding to address the crisis.

Why was GBV declared a national disaster?

It was a response to the scale of violence against women and girls and the state’s longstanding failure to implement existing laws and policies effectively. In 2019, the government adopted the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide for 2020-2030, which acknowledged this as a national crisis, but implementation has been weak. The statistics remain alarming: an average of 117 rapes are reported each day, with 5,578 women killed in the past year alone, around 15 women every day. South Africa’s femicide rate is almost five times the global average.

Women for Change pushed for the declaration because while policy frameworks already exist, what has been missing is accountability, coordination and urgency. Declaring GBV and femicides a national disaster creates a mechanism for faster action, improved funding and stronger oversight.

The timing was also significant. The declaration was made the day before a nationwide shutdown planned for 21 November, timed to coincide with the start of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. On 11 April, Women for Change submitted a memorandum to the government backed by over 170,000 signatures. The response was minimal until South Africa prepared to host the G20 Summit, when global scrutiny intensified. The declaration came at a moment when inaction was no longer politically sustainable, though it should have happened much earlier.

How did civil society build pressure for the government to act?

Civil society combined digital mobilisation, mass participation and direct action, strategically leveraging national and international attention. Digital activism played a central role. Social media enabled movements to reach large audiences quickly and build solidarity beyond South Africa. During the shutdown protests, purple became a global symbol of resistance, generating widespread online visibility and engagement.

Petitions were also critical. By the time South Africa hosted the G20 Summit, over 1.1 million people had signed in support of declaring GBV a national disaster. The show of public support on this scale made it increasingly difficult for the government to dismiss our demands.

Physical mobilisation was equally essential. The shutdown created disruption and highlighted the economic and political costs of inaction. During the 21 November protests, people lay down for 15 minutes in public spaces at noon to honour the 15 women killed daily in South Africa.

The timing of the shutdown ahead of the G20 Summit was particularly strategic. As host, the government sought to project an image of stability and economic strength, and activists used the global spotlight to challenge that narrative by exposing the lived realities of women facing widespread violence. The international attention surrounding the summit significantly amplified these demands and increased pressure on authorities to respond.

What does declaring GBV a national disaster make possible in practical terms?

The declaration enables emergency funding, more efficient implementation of existing policies and improved coordination across government departments. In practical terms, this includes strengthening services such as care centres, improving training for police officers, upgrading GBV units in police stations and addressing delays and failures in the court system. It also creates a stronger basis for transparency, including clearer reporting, financial audits and monitoring of implementation.

This is not about introducing new laws, because South Africa already has strong legal frameworks. The declaration is about enforcing them more effectively and holding the state accountable for delivering results.

What obstacles remain, and what needs to happen next?

One of the biggest remaining challenges is the deep entrenchment of GBV within cultural and social norms. Legal and policy reforms are necessary but are not sufficient on their own. GBV is complex and requires long-term change at both institutional and community levels.

The declaration sends an important signal that the government recognises this as a crisis, but sustained political will be essential for meaningful change. The next step is ensuring meaningful implementation, which should translate into stronger conviction rates, showing how perpetrators face real consequences. Over time, this can begin to shift social norms and eliminate harmful practices.

Transparency will be crucial. Civil society needs detailed information on what actions are being taken, how funds are being used and what impact these measures are having. This is why we will need to remain active: without sustained pressure, progress will likely stall.