Strategic context: GBVF in South Africa

Strategic Context: GBVF in South Africa

South Africa, sadly, has a fertile ground for violence.

South Africa is a deeply violent society and continues to wrestle with the impact of decades of institutionalised racism, sexism, exclusion, structural violence and other factors that have continued to undermine human development and positive social cohesion.

South Africa’s global peace index ranking resembles that of a country at war, with one of the highest murder rates found globally outside of a war zone.

The Victims of Crime Survey reports year on year reveal increased crime levels.

Overview Video (more detail below)

The 10 year National Strategic Plan on GBVF was adopted in 2020 as a society-wide programme to end gender-based violence and femicide. It is organised around six pillars, which are aimed at prevention of GBV, strengthening the criminal justice response to GBV, and providing support, care and healing to survivors of gender-based violence.

The Six Pillars of the NSP

The NSP is divided into 6 pillars each with a focus area, problem analyses, strategic principles and key deliverables.

Download the PDFs of each Pillar for more information:

The Vision of the NSP on GBVF

A South Africa free from gender-based violence directed at women, children and LGBTQIA+ persons.

The purpose of the NSP

The purpose is to provides a multi-sectoral, coherent strategic policy and programming framework to ensure a coordinated national response to the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide by the government of South Africa and the country as a whole.

Guiding Principles

Multi-sectoral: To harness the roles, responsibilities & resources of all stakeholders.

Active & Meaningful Participation: Of communities, civil society & those affected by GBVF in the design & implementation #Whole SocietyApproach.

Human Rights & Survivor Centred: Approach to the provision of services that reaches all, without the risk of financial hardship.

Inclusive: Intergenerational, youth-friendly approach embracing Diversity, & Intersectionality.

Spirit of the NSP

The NSP is founded on women constitutionally entrenched right to be free from all forms of violence, also emphasised by the 24 demands delivered by the #TheTotalShutdown movement, the Declaration emerging from the 2018 Presidential Summit on GBVF.

The NSP acknowledges the equality of all genders and aims to free our society from the clutches of violence, homophobia, chauvinism and misogyny. Inclusiveness, embracing diversity and intersectionality, recognising the importance of centring women’s experience most marginalised by poverty, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and nationality.

The NSP symbolises collective accountability and responsibility, promoting an all-inclusive society approach.

Pillar detail extracted from “Get to know your NSP” produced by the DWYPD

Five Year Review

The 5-year review of the NSP conducted in late 2025 and early 2026, highlights both significant progress in policy development and persistent gaps in on-the-ground impact.

Key Performance Findings

A reflective review of the initial five years indicates mixed results in achieving the strategy’s original targets:

Target Achievement: Approximately one-third of indicators have been fully achieved, with half currently in progress.
Leadership: South Africa is recognised globally for its bold political leadership and the creation of a multi-sectoral response.
Infrastructure: Significant progress was made in legal reforms, the expansion of sexual offences courts, and the establishment of the National Council on GBVF Act, 2024.

Major Challenges Identified

Despite these policy successes, several systemic barriers remain:

Funding Shortfalls: The original cost for full execution was estimated at over R21 billion, but actual national budget allocations in the initial years fell drastically short, with less than R1.6 billion earmarked.
Coordination Gaps: The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) noted that a “lack of effective coordination among key implementing entities” continues to hamper success.
Survivor Impact: In some regions, NGOs report that the declaration of GBVF as a “national disaster” has not yet yielded tangible changes for survivors on the ground.
Data Integration: Pillar 6 (Research and Information) still lacks a comprehensive management information system that effectively links different government departments.

The 6 Foundational Pillars Reviewed

Accountability, Coordination, and Leadership: Establishment of the National Council on GBVF to oversee the response.
Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion: Efforts to foster community ties and address underlying social norms.
Justice, Safety, and Protection: Legislative amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act and strengthening the Sex Offenders Register.
Response, Care, Support, and Healing: Improving court accessibility and victim support services.
Economic Power: Empowering survivors through economic independence and targeted business support.
Research and Information Systems: Developing robust data collection to monitor progress.

Next Steps for Beyond 2026

With 2025 serving as the mid-term review milestone, the focus has shifted toward localising services and ensuring that national strategies translate into rural and marginalised community support. Stakeholders are calling for accelerated implementation to address the “gap between strategy and reality”