President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his weekly newsletter, on 8 December 2025, highlighted South Africa’s persistently high levels of violence against women and children, describing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster requiring extraordinary measures.
As the country observes the 16 Days of Activism campaign from 25 November to 10 December, he drew attention to the Human Sciences Research Council’s 2022 data showing that over 35% of women over 18 have experienced physical or sexual violence, primarily from intimate partners, and emphasised the corrosive social and economic effects of GBVF.
The President outlined government measures to address the crisis, which include expanded victim-friendly facilities, specialised GBV desks at police stations, faster evidence processing, a new 24-hour service for protection orders, and progress on legislation passed in 2022 strengthening sexual offences registers and courts.
With GBVF now officially classified as a national disaster, key departments -including Police, Justice, Social Development, Health, and Basic Education- are mandated to scale up survivor support, shelters, and emergency resources, while reporting progress to the National Disaster Management Centre.
C. Ramaphosa stressed that men must take a central role in prevention, calling for sustained national dialogues to confront drivers of violence such as toxic masculinity and harmful cultural norms. He further urged a whole-of-society approach, appealing to communities, civil society, faith leaders, businesses, unions, and citizens to report abuse, challenge enabling attitudes, and work collectively to achieve a society free from gender-based violence and femicide.