Dear Editor
South Africa begins the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence today, and the reality remains stark. Violence against women and children continues unabated, and declaring a “State of Disaster” alone is not a tangible solution. Every life lost, every survivor retraumatised, is a failure we cannot accept.
South Africa recently shut down ahead of the G20, and as a responsible party of government, we are heeding the call to of society so drive stronger action out of government to end the scourge of GBV in South Africa.
The Democratic Alliance will work tirelessly to turn words into action.
Over the past six years, the DA has consistently acted in Parliament and in the country to confront GBV. From participating in national protests and debates, advocating for legislative reforms such as the Prescription of Sexual Offences Amendment Bill, and calling out ministerial failures, to submitting parliamentary questions and proposing concrete policy solutions, the DA has pushed for accountability, justice, and safety.
We have called for action from ministers, exposed mismanagement of GBV funds, highlighted systemic failures in policing and justice, and fought to ensure survivors are heard and supported.
Now, the DA will establish a dedicated GBV task team to drive a comprehensive plan of action.
This team will focus on:
- Do a full legislative review and strengthening of the entire GBV legislative framework, enforcing implementation now.
- Launch a 100-day oversight blitz with oversights at Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), GBV shelters, the NPA and DNA forensic labs.
- Undertake DA-led oversight audits of GBV shelters, TCCs, and police stations; publish results and fix failures immediately.
- Launch a DA GBV Reporting Portal for legal resources and public exposure of institutional failures.
- Demand that SAPS forges public-private partnerships to wipe out the DNA backlog permanently.
- Use parliamentary measures to call for the proper funding and staffing for social workers, TCCs, doctors, nurses and prosecutors.
- Work towards legislative and other measures to enforce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse and the implementation of the Children’s Act.
- Support the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in handing over shelters without delay.
- Demand the immediate release of detailed GBV crime statistics and the addition of GBV markers on SAPS systems.
- Monitor the full establishment and proper funding of the National GBVF Council – no more excuses.
Monitor the proper funding of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF
The team will include myself. Adv Glynnis Breytenbach, Lisa Schickerling, Angel Khanyile, Bridget Masango, Nazley Sharif and Michele Clarke, to bring together DA spokespersons on the portfolios of justice, police, social development, basic education, and health.
Together, we will identify practical, urgent interventions to support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, strengthen policing and justice responses, and demand that government delivers with clear targets, budgets, and timelines.
Ending GBV is not only the state’s responsibility. Communities, schools, faith groups, and civic organisations all have a role to play. Every South African must speak out, support survivors, and make it clear that abuse will not be tolerated.
During these 16 Days, and every day thereafter, the DA will use every tool in Parliament to ensure promises are turned into action, because behind every statistic are real lives that matter.
Regards
George Michalakis MP
DA Chief Whip in Parliament