Ramaphosa names GBVF Council to tackle gender-based violence crisis

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has established the country’s first statutory National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF), marking a new phase in the government’s efforts to combat one of the nation’s most persistent social issues. The council was officially named on Friday and will begin operations on August 1, with a mandate lasting until July 31, 2029. This initiative comes under the National Council on Gender-Based Violence Act of 2024, which provides the legal framework for the body’s functions. The NCGBVF is tasked with offering strategic leadership in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, coordinating the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF across government and other sectors. President Ramaphosa appointed Dr Ramalepe Lebogang Mathibe as the council’s chairperson and Welheminah “Shoki” Tshabalala as deputy chairperson. Additional members include Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse, Caroline Peters, Dr Zubeda Dangor, Vuyisiwe Numalo, Anele Siswana, and TWM Limema. According to the Presidency, the council will play a key role in enhancing collaboration among the government, civil society, and local communities. Its responsibilities include developing strategies to prevent violence, supporting survivors, improving law enforcement responses, and promoting women’s economic empowerment. Ramaphosa emphasized that the council would lend greater authority to the nation’s approach to tackling GBVF. In remarks following the announcement, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the newly appointed leaders, stating that their expertise would guide the country toward more effective solutions. He noted that the formation of the council had long been anticipated and that the government would allocate resources to enable the body to carry out its duties effectively. “We’ve appointed the Gender-Based Violence Council to lead the process of ensuring that we bring down and eliminate gender-based violence in our country,” he said. This appointment follows Ramaphosa’s earlier declaration that gender-based violence and femicide constitute a national crisis. In that statement, he described the level of violence against women and children as unacceptable and called for a more unified national strategy. Bridget Masango, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, welcomed the declaration, urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and implement protective measures swiftly. Research conducted by the South African Medical Research Council and presented to Parliament underscores the severity of the crisis. According to the findings, approximately 10,972 women were victims of femicide over a 20-year period, with three women being killed daily by an intimate partner. Additionally, one in four women has experienced either physical or sexual violence. The National Strategic Plan on GBVF, adopted in 2020, outlines a comprehensive approach to addressing violence against women and children. Key components of the plan include preventive measures, improved access to justice, enhanced support services for survivors, increased economic opportunities for women, better data collection, and stronger inter-sectoral coordination. The establishment of the NCGBVF represents a significant step in aligning policy with action. With its diverse membership and clear mandate, the council is positioned to influence both legislative and operational aspects of GBVF response. As the body begins its work, attention will turn to how effectively it can translate these goals into tangible outcomes for affected communities.