16 Days of Activism Against GBV Launches in Wellington

On a hot summer’s day in the heart of Wellington, the GBV 16 Days of Activism campaign kicked off at Joubert Park, featuring government and community stakeholders taking centre stage in the proceedings.

South Africa has long been described as one of the world’s most violent places for women and children. Recent data and studies confirm that Gender-based violence (GBV) is not only pervasive but also worsening, representing a public health crisis, a social crisis, and a human rights crisis all rolled into one.

The 16 days of activism launch included participation from Drakenstein Municipality, SAPS Wellington, the Department of Social Development, and community organizations such as Thuthuzela Paarl and Norsa. The program began with the National Anthem at 10:00, followed by Reverend L. Mactavie opening the proceedings with a prayer. Klakousies and Little Sunbeams Daycare Centers also took part, with children from both facilities delivering powerful performances.

Gender-based violence has been a constant thorn in the side of South Africa, carrying the burden of many women and children feeling hurt and neglected. Mr Sivuyile Mtlaka, the acting social work manager at the Department of Social Development in Drakenstein and Stellenbosch, shared his views. “For us today, as the leading department in social work services, we are here to call for action and collaboration with our stakeholders to address the scourge of Gender-based violence in our country. As the department, we understand that we cannot deal with this crisis alone. We are here to encourage everybody to challenge the harmful norms in our society and to hold the perpetrators of Gender-based violence accountable and create safe spaces where every women can thrive without fear.”

The numbers — stark and consistent

• Homicide and femicide. Multiple analyses and compilations of official data show extremely high levels of female homicide and intimate-partner femicide in South Africa. Long-term research finds the country’s femicide rate is several times the global average; decades of femicide research show patterns of persistent high rates and limited decline.
   

• Recent counts of women and children killed. Media reporting based on official figures and civil-society tracking has reported that, in the year ending March 2024, roughly 5,578 women and 1,656 children were killed in South Africa — numbers that underline the scale of lethal violence facing women and children.
   

• Everyday GBV in police statistics and surveys. SAPS crime releases and Statistics South Africa victim surveys repeatedly show large numbers of rapes, assaults, and domestic-violence incidents. For example, SAPS reported over 10,000 reported rape incidents in some quarterly summaries, while Stats SA household surveys document high levels of physical and sexual victimisation among women. These sources also reveal that many incidents never reach the police — underreporting is substantial.
   

• Regional and global perspective. UN Women and regional bodies note that southern Africa experiences some of the highest rates of femicide globally — South Africa’s rates place it among countries with the most severe levels of lethal gender violence.

Chris Willemse, a mental health social worker from Norsa, said, “Norsa’s focus is to provide health services to the community. We have sub-clinics across Drakenstein where we have personal nurses, councillors, and social workers. We are here today to show support to victims of Gender-based violence from the community who are unable to lift their voices.”

What the state has done — laws, plans and recent momentum

South Africa has a strong legislative framework on paper: amendments to sexual-offences and domestic-violence laws, and a national National Strategic Plan on Gender-based violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) exist to coordinate policy responses. Government also operates a Gender-based Violence Command Centre and a range of prevention and survivor-support initiatives.

Yet many leaders and civil-society organisations argue implementation has lagged. In late 2025, amid sustained activism and large protests, the government moved to acknowledge Gender-based violence as a national disaster — a symbolic move intended to unlock resources and coordination at scale. That declaration signals both the severity of the crisis and increased political pressure for transformative action.

As we head into the festive season for 2025, citizens are urged to be vocal and report cases of Gender-based violence at the nearest police stations and community organisations facilitating adequate services. It is the entire nation’s responsibility to step in and take the necessary measures that can ultimately reward South African Citizens in the prevention of Gender-based violence cases in our communities.