Vice President Paul Mashatile attended the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism for Non-Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Rustenburg, North West on Monday.

Speaking at the launch, Mashatile said the government was working with all sectors to develop an action plan that can be implemented, stating that gender-based violence (GBV) is a “national crisis that requires a national response”.

“We will collaborate on a plan that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable and ensures the inclusion of everyone in our common effort to eradicate violence,” he said.

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Confronting GBV as a Pandemic – Mashtile

Mashtile said as part of cupboardBecause of his continued commitment to fighting this scourge, he has endorsed treating GBV and femicide as if it were a pandemic.

Furthermore, he added that the foundation of this approach lies in a clear focus on three key areas:

• Strengthen institutional arrangements, which we advance by establishing a multi-sectoral system National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) to coordinate and lead efforts across all sectors.
• Intensify prevention efforts, including leveraging preferential purchasing to help reduce poverty, which is a key driver of violence, while creating sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.
• We are strengthening the use of evidence-based approaches, ensuring that robust data, research and the lived experiences of victims and survivors inform all interventions and policies.

“Concrete actions”

“Fellow South Africans, let me also share with you some of the concrete actions we have taken over the past year to create a safer and fairer society.

• We have passed laws that prioritize the safety of women and children, including the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offenses Act.
• The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill was signed into law on May 24, 2024, making the bill an urgent priority.
• We are testing applications for protection orders online, making it easier for victims to access the legal protection they need.
• 68 courts have been upgraded to meet the minimum standards of the National Reasonable Accommodations Strategy to ensure that all court users, including people with disabilities, have access to justice.
• We completed the Gqeberha forensic laboratory and improved the crime administration system, enabling better management of crime data.
• Progress has been made to eliminate the historic backlog of DNA testing and to prioritize cases to ensure timely and effective justice for victims and survivors.
• We have developed a category of crimes constituting gender-based violence, making it easier to identify and track cases in our justice system.
• The Women’s Economic Assembly (WECONA), launched in October 2021, has opened up opportunities for women in key sectors such as automotive, agriculture, mining, energy, manufacturing and healthcare .
• The Presidential Women’s Economic Empowerment Program has reached 6,684 women entrepreneurs in several provinces, helping them grow their businesses through preferential purchasing opportunities.
• We have supported 270 civil society organizations across the country that provide direct services to victims and survivors, with total funding of R89.7 million through the criminal justice and asset recovery funds.
• Approximately 96,980 victims accessed psychosocial support through the GBV Command Center.
• We have established three Khuseleka centers and increased the number of designated health facilities to 57, ensuring victims have access to comprehensive support.

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Prevention and financial independence as pillars of change

According to Mashatile, the mining sector is working to improve response, care and support services for victims and survivors, with a sponsored center in Limpopo and the North West.

“We will focus on prevention and economic empowerment, recognizing the importance of financial independence in breaking the cycle of violence. »

Furthermore, he said he is committed to creating opportunities for women and children, ensuring they have access to quality education, employment and resources that enable them to achieve financial independence.

“We must work together, at all levels of society, to drive systemic change and build a safer and more equitable environment for all,” concluded Mashatile.

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