KEY POINTS
- Activists want gender-based violence declared a national disaster.
- Over 5,500 women were murdered in just one year.
- Police officers are among those committing crimes against women.
South Africa is facing crisis, and activists are demanding action.
Ahead of the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), women’s rights advocacy group Women for Change is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially declare gender-based violence (GBV) a national disaster.
The urgency of their demand comes as shocking statistics reveal that 5,578 women and 1,656 children were killed between April 2023 and March 2024, with femicide rising by a staggering 33.8 percent compared to the previous year. This is not just a crisis, it’s a war on women.
With SONA set for Thursday night, activists are calling for more than just words. They want measurable steps to tackle this GBV crisis in South Africa.
Police officers among those committing gender-based crimes
The fight against GBV is made even harder by the fact that some of those sworn to protect are the ones committing crimes against women.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) document for 2023/24 showed that police officers caused 110 cases of rape.
The reported cases of police officer rape which stood at 122 in the previous year decreased to 110 but continue to signal major accountability issues in police operations.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly opposed these results by advocating for added police officer accountability standards.
The lack of confidence women have in police exposes them to a dangerous situation, since they do not know who else to trust for help.
Current statistics show a worsening GBV crisis across South Africa, with activists warning that no emergency intervention will lead to continually increasing numbers.
Activists demand urgent government action at SONA 2025
The activist movement demands action beyond mere policy conversations to do away with inaction.
The National Strategic Plan on GBV (2020) and the National Council Bill (2024) established as proactive measures towards progress have proved ineffective, according to numerous assessments.
Women for Change has directly challenged President Ramaphosa to name even one of the victims in his speech.
“We demand more than empty commitments. Fully implement the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. Strengthen the justice system. Show us that women’s lives matter,” the group said.
With the country watching, SONA 2025 could be a turning point. Will Ramaphosa take a stand, or will this crisis continue to claim more lives?
