Government Launches 90-Day-Blitz to Combat GBVF

Just six days ago, we stood outside Parliament to hand over our petition calling for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide to be declared a National Disaster. Over 150,000 voices united behind one urgent message: enough is enough. GBVF is not just a social issue, it is a national crisis demanding urgent, extraordinary action.

Today, the government has launched a 90-day blitz to combat GBVF.

While we welcome this recognition, we await an official response to our petition. We have given the Presidency and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities until 10 May to formally respond and clearly state whether GBVF will be declared a National Disaster.

If there is no response by this deadline, we will not stay silent. We will keep to Unbury The Truth and raise our voices because this is not just a campaign but a fight for survival.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has launched a 90-day blitz to tackle the scourge of GBVF in South Africa.

On Monday, 14 April 2025, the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster Ministers and senior officials convened a special meeting, co-chaired by Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi (Justice and Constitutional Development) and Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu. Recognising the urgency and gravity of the GBVF crisis, the Cluster announced the immediate revival and restructuring of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF. A formal request has been submitted to the President for the committee’s re-establishment as part of the 7th Administration.

“This urgent meeting was convened in response to the alarming surge in GBVF incidents across the country. It culminated in the adoption of a 90-day acceleration programme to intensify the national response and fast-track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF,” posted the South African Justice, Crime Prevention and Security X account.

The IMC’s inaugural meeting is set to take place within two weeks. It will act as a central coordinating tool to speed up government initiatives, address systemic bottlenecks, and ensure demonstrable results. Further mentioned on the government website, this 90-day blitz marks not only a declaration of intent but the beginning of a coordinated, government-wide campaign to end GBVF.

“We have countless initiatives and laws that are available in this country, yet they all seem to be in a slow processing queue, leading to further disappointment. This initiative is being led by the Minister of Police, which is concerning due to the miscommunication of previous cases, as we witnessed with Cwecwe’s case.

There’s also a mention of the ‘sudden’ influx in femicide cases, which is completely baseless, considering that this isn’t new information. SAPS statistics from April 2023 to March 2024 revealed the shocking rise of 33.8% in femicides, which was released in August 2024.

That alone is a clear indicator that this is not new information. This pandemic has existed for decades. Another critical issue is the factor of transparency.” Bulelwa Adonis, spokesperson said.

Key Government Actions in the 90-Day Blitz Against GBVF

Re-establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF

  • A formal request has been submitted to the President. The IMC’s inaugural meeting will take place within two weeks.

Establishment of a GBVF Priority Committee within NATJOINTS

  • Co-chaired by the Departments of Social Development and Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
  • Will focus on coordinating frontline protection and security interventions.

Revitalisation of Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Structures in all provinces

  • Provincial JCPS Committees will be formed to drive localised GBVF interventions.
  • Activation of grassroots government machinery to improve community mobilisation.

Alignment of Criminal Justice Systems

  • A team of senior officials will streamline coordination between police, prosecutorial, and correctional services.
  • Departments will identify institutional gaps and propose actionable, time-bound solutions.

Public Education and Communication

  • The Government Communication and Information System will coordinate a national GBVF webinar led by government experts.
  • Targeted communication training will be delivered to officials for consistent, professional messaging.

Expansion of Thuthuzela Care Centres

Action Plans for Prevention

  • Departments to develop measurable, community-targeted action plans with timelines and outcomes.

Strengthening the National Council on GBVF

  • Propose sustainable funding models.
  • Nominate senior-level board members (Deputy Director-General or higher).

Cluster-Wide Training

  • Training on revised GBVF legislation, regulations, and case-handling guidelines to be intensified across all departments.

Reclaiming the National Narrative on GBVF

  • Government will lead public discourse on GBVF and security issues, ensuring unified and proactive communication.