As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to deliver his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), activists are intensifying calls for gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) to be declared a national disaster. Women’s rights group Women for Change has taken a firm stand, urging the president to take immediate action to address the rising tide of violence against women.
The group highlighted the heartbreaking statistics from the past year, naming victims such as Dr. Zamambo Mkhize, Palesa Mofokeng, Melanie Jackson, and over 5,500 other women who were murdered in a single year. “Say their names, Mr. President,” Women for Change demanded, urging the government to stop making empty promises and fully implement the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.
According to the groupβs spokesperson, Bulelwa Adonis, the situation has reached crisis levels. She emphasized that this ongoing violence is a national disaster that has far exceeded a mere issue of safety, and instead constitutes a war against women. βBodies have been violated, dignity confiscated, and safety has long been eradicated,β Adonis stated, calling for the president to acknowledge the gravity of the situation by naming at least one of the women who fell victim to violence.
Women for Change further urged President Ramaphosa to take responsibility for the implementation of laws meant to combat GBVF, referencing the National Strategic Plan passed in 2020 and the National Council Bill passed in 2024. The group expressed its hope that the SONA would reflect a real commitment to tackling this persistent crisis.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has also voiced its concerns, condemning the disturbing findings of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). The 2023/2024 annual report revealed 110 rape cases perpetrated by police officers, down from 122 in the previous year. The fact that women are not safe even from those entrusted to protect them highlights the deep-rooted issue of gender-based violence and the urgency of reform within law enforcement.
As the country awaits the presidentβs address, many hope that Ramaphosa will seize this opportunity to take bold action and commit to protecting South Africaβs women from the ongoing scourge of violence and abuse.