By Thapelo Molefe
In an effort to deal with the escalating crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), the government has launched a 90-day national acceleration programme aimed at delivering real and measurable results.
The initiative was announced on Wednesday following a special sitting of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster.
The meeting, convened under the leadership of JCPS cluster co-chairs, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, was aimed at responding to GBVF, which President Cyril Ramaphosa recently described as the “second pandemic”.
The meeting culminated in the adoption of a government-wide blitz to “crush GBVF” through urgent and coordinated action.
“This 90-day blitz marks not only a declaration of intent but the beginning of a coordinated, government-wide campaign to end GBVF,” the cluster said in a statement.
One of the resolutions is the urgent reconstitution of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF. A formal request has been made to the president.
“It will serve as the central coordinating mechanism to expedite government interventions, resolve systemic bottlenecks and ensure measurable progress,” the statement read.
Additionally, a dedicated GBVF Priority Committee will be created within the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), co-chaired by the departments of Social Development and Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
The structure is designed “to improve the coordination of frontline security and protection interventions”.
Acknowledging the critical role of local action, the cluster also announced a revitalisation of JCPS structures across all provinces.
“The cluster further directed the activation of government machinery at the grassroots level, with a strong emphasis on community mobilisation and the involvement of local structures in the fight against GBVF.”
To eliminate delays in GBVF case processing, a high-level team of officials has been tasked with aligning police, prosecutorial and correctional services systems.
Each department must “identify critical institutional gaps and propose actionable, time-bound measures,” according to the statement.
The government also committed to consolidating GBVF-related statistics from arrest to incarceration into a single integrated report.
“This report, along with each department’s intervention points, will be submitted to the IMC.”
The communication arm of government has been mobilised for the campaign.
“The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has been instructed to coordinate a national webinar on GBVF, led by government experts, and to deliver targeted communication training to officials.”
The cluster also prioritised the accelerated rollout of Thuthuzela Care Centres across all provinces to provide holistic, survivor-centred support services.
And the Justice and Constitutional Development Department was specifically tasked with addressing the urgent repair and maintenance of SOS systems in court facilities to enhance safety for survivors and witnesses, especially minors.
Another urgent concern raised was the growing number of children arrested for sexual offences.
“NATJOINTS [has been directed] to develop an appropriate and urgent response to this emerging crisis,” the statement noted.
The JCPS cluster emphasised that the fight against GBVF must extend beyond criminal justice to societal transformation.
“The meeting underscored the need to rebuild the social fabric of society, particularly the family unit, as a foundational step in the long-term prevention of GBVF.”
Departments are required to develop results-driven action plans with clear timelines, defined target communities and measurable outcomes.
The National Council on GBVF will also be strengthened, with departments directed to propose sustainable funding models and nominate board members at deputy director-general level or higher.
“Incremental change is no longer sufficient. Government enters this period with full force, calling on every organ of state and sector of society to play an active, decisive role in eradicating GBVF,” the cluster said.
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