As South Africa marks the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, the President’s newsletter underscores the scale of the crisis and outlines government’s intensified response after officially declaring GBVF a national disaster last month.

“As South Africa and the world observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December, it is a shame that our country has the dubious distinction of having one of the world’s highest levels of violence against women and girls,” the President said.

According to data from the HSRC’s National GBV Study (2022), more than 35% of women over 18 have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with most cases committed by intimate partners. The report, he said, provides the baseline needed to drive the country’s long-term response to GBVF through the National Strategic Plan adopted after the 2018 Presidential Summit.

Reflecting on the long-term effects of gender-based violence, President Ramaphosa said the impact is “arguably even more corrosive” than the devastation caused by COVID-19.

“Gender-based violence destroys families, has an economic cost, causes instability and fear for women and girls, and reproduces inter-generational trauma,” he wrote.

He said classifying GBVF as a national disaster strengthens the mandates of key departments, including Police, Justice, Social Development, Health and Basic Education, to scale up survivor support, expand shelters and safe spaces, and fast-track emergency resource allocation.

All organs of state are now required to submit progress reports to the National Disaster Management Centre.

The President highlighted recent briefings to Parliament’s Multiparty Women’s Caucus, where the SAPS and the Department of Justice reported steps taken to improve case management and strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to GBVF.

These include:

Expansion of victim-friendly facilities and specialised GBV desks at police stations
Establishment of a GBVF Information Centre at SAPS Academy Pretoria
Faster evidence processing and improved collaboration between SAPS and the NPA
A new 24-hour service for obtaining protection orders
Progress on anti-GBV legislation signed into law in 2022, including stronger sexual offences registers and more specialised courts
Despite this, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that implementation of the National Strategic Plan has been “uneven”, saying the disaster classification would help speed up funding flows for survivor services and improve access to justice.

Men are central to the solution

President Ramaphosa again emphasised that men must play a leading role in prevention efforts, echoing remarks he made during the Men’s Indaba in the Free State last week.

“Unless we directly engage men, we will continue to have marches, hold protests and conduct social media campaigns, but the statistics will not change. Even as men are the main perpetrators of GBVF, they are also part of the solution,” he said.

The President called for a nationwide, sustained programme of dialogues with men and boys to confront the drivers of violence including toxic masculinity, harmful cultural norms, peer pressure and socialisation.

President Ramaphosa further stressed that combating GBVF requires a whole-of-society response.

“A national disaster demands national responsibility. Whether as communities, civil society, government, faith leaders, business, unions or citizens, we must all play our part,” he said.

He urged South Africans to report abuse rather than “look away”, and to actively dismantle the attitudes that enable violence.

“The safety and security of women and children is everybody’s business. Let us continue to work together to realise a society free from gender-based violence and femicide,” President Ramaphosa said.

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According to the police, between 13 and 19 October 2025, the specialised units collectively arrested 534 suspects across the country for various sexual crimes, including rape, sexual assault, attempted rape, and other related offences.

“During the same period, FCS investigators secured 13 life imprisonment sentences and an additional 448 years’ imprisonment against convicted sexual offenders. These sentences were handed down in various courts following thorough investigations and meticulous case preparation by dedicated detectives,” the SAPS said.

Recent notable convictions include:

Free State: On 17 October 2025, the Bloemfontein High Court sentenced a 58-year-old lawyer from Welkom to three life terms and an addition 61 years’ imprisonment for the sexual abuse of five minor children.

The youngest victim was seven years old at the time of the offences. The victims’ stepfather was found guilty on charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming, exposure to pornography to a minor, sexual exploitation of a child, production of child sexual abuse material, sexual assault, and compelled sexual assault.

Limpopo: The Limpopo Division of High Court Polokwane sentenced a 38-year-old serial rapist to 151 years’ imprisonment on 22 October 2025 for multiple counts of rape, attempted rape, and robbery.

The convicted serial rapist targeted women in and around Hlogotlou, Rakgadi and Nebo. The youngest victim was nine years old at the time of her attack.

The SAPS commended all men and women in blue for their continued dedication and commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of sexual violence are brought to justice and that survivors receive the justice and dignity they deserve.

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One such unit, based in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, has been singled out for its commitment to tackling gender-based violence and bringing serial offenders to justice.

Bringing a Serial Rapist to Justice

Between 2014 and 2022, 38-year-old Mzamo Gumede terrorised women in the Empangeni area, raping at least ten victims. His youngest was a 17-year-old girl. Gumede targeted women walking alone, threatening them with either a firearm or a knife before dragging them into nearby bushes to commit the assaults.

Investigators from the Empangeni FCS, led by Lieutenant Colonel Bongiwe Sosibo, painstakingly pieced together evidence, combining forensic results with detailed descriptions from survivors. Their persistence led to Gumede’s identification and arrest.

On 22 October 2024, the Mtubatuba High Court sentenced him to ten life terms for rape, plus 15 years for robbery. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name was added to the National Register for Sex Offenders.

A Record of Results

In the past year alone, the Empangeni FCS unit has secured 30 convictions. Of these, 20 resulted in life sentences, while the remaining ten offenders received a combined total of 275 years in prison.

Lieutenant Colonel Sosibo and her team were praised for their tireless work, often involving long hours and challenging conditions, in pursuit of justice.

The Role of FCS Units

FCS units were established within SAPS to focus on crimes against women, children and other vulnerable groups. They have been described as a crucial development in the fight against gender-based violence, particularly in cases such as rape, which often occur in secluded areas or between acquaintances, making prevention difficult.

Police officials said the Empangeni FCS’s record demonstrates how specialised investigative capacity can make a significant difference in securing justice for victims and helping to restore confidence in law enforcement.

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Revised GBV&F Action Plan and Oversight Structures

Central to SAPS’ response is its GBV&F Action Plan, which was initially finalised in March 2021 and revised in January 2025. The plan is structured around the pillars of the National Strategic Plan on GBV&F and includes prevention strategies, improved victim support services, and the professionalisation of SAPS responses.

To enforce governance, a National Steering Committee on GBV&F and an Inter-Divisional Forum have been established. These structures are tasked with ensuring accountability and coordination across police divisions.

Short-Term Acceleration Plan and Enforcement Mechanisms

In parallel, SAPS launched a 90-Day Accelerated GBV Plan from 1 May to 31 July 2025. This initiative focuses on enhancing victim services and tightening procedures for dealing with offenders.

SAPS members are also bound by a set of GBV&F-related national instructions. These directives cover a range of issues, including domestic violence, sexual offences, human trafficking, and protection of children. Any violation of these instructions is treated as misconduct and processed under the SAPS Discipline Regulations of 2016.

A joint compliance forum with the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service monitors adherence to the Domestic Violence Act. Routine compliance assessments are also conducted at station level.

SAPS allocated R50 million in the 2024-2025 financial year for GBV&F-related programmes. This budget supports training, strengthens Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units, and backs public awareness campaigns.

In a longer-term move, SAPS is implementing an Infrastructure Development Plan (2024–2029), aimed at equipping 95 police stations with victim-friendly facilities.

Several community-oriented projects form part of SAPS’ broader strategy:

• GBV&F Tavern Project: Initiated in 2023/24, this project involves collaboration with tavern owners in 30 high-risk areas. It includes educational murals, awareness messaging and roundtable discussions involving patrons and stakeholders.

• Children’s Awareness and School Safety: SAPS is working with the Department of Basic Education to implement school safety programmes, and has partnered with civil society organisations to create safer community spaces for children.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: SAPS actively participates in key national observances including Child Protection Week, Youth Month, Victims’ Rights Week, Disability Month, and the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children.

To improve public accountability, SAPS operates a national complaints system. Victims and citizens can lodge service-related complaints via the National Service Complaints Call Centre on 0800 333 177, through email at complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za, or by using the “Service Complaints” function on the MYSAPS mobile app. Complaints are logged and tracked with specific timeframes for responses.

While SAPS has outlined a broad and structured approach to tackling GBV&F and crimes against children, the effectiveness of these interventions will ultimately depend on implementation at station level, sustained funding and rigorous oversight. With GBV&F rates still unacceptably high in many precincts, continued monitoring and transparency will be critical to restoring public trust and ensuring meaningful change.

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Speaking at the official launch, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola outlined the scope and objectives of the operation. He said the second phase of Shanela would build on the gains of the initial campaign, which led to over 1.2 million arrests in 18 months. Since 1 April 2025, over 180,000 individuals have already been arrested under Shanela 2, including:

• 6,971 suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes

• 1,881 for murder

• 1,576 for attempted murder

• 2,367 for rape

• 18,255 for assault GBH

• 1,119 for illegal firearm possession

• 25,643 for drug-related offences

The SAPS has further recovered 1,441 firearms, 27,005 rounds of ammunition, and 862 hijacked or stolen vehicles.

Masemola stated that Operation Shanela II will focus on six key crime categories: murder (including gang and taxi-related killings), hijackings, illegal firearms, drug crimes, and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The aim is to improve operational efficiency through increased police visibility, advanced technologies, and focused deployments informed by recent crime statistics.

Nationwide Implementation

The operation is being implemented across all provinces, with each region focusing on local crime patterns.

Free State: Targeting Border and Urban Crime

In Mangaung Metro, Operation Shanela II is active in hotspots including Bloemspruit, Parkweg, Botshabelo, Boithuso, Kopanong, and surrounding border areas. The multidisciplinary team, which includes the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority, and Provincial Traffic officials, recently held a joint parade in Wepener before executing cross-border operations.

• Nine undocumented individuals were arrested for immigration violations.

• A Toyota Quantum was impounded, and 75 vehicles and 161 people were searched.

• In Qibing, compliance checks led to the confiscation of 25 litres of home-brewed alcohol and 128,520 litres of alcohol. Fines were issued for unauthorised liquor sales.

• In Bloemfontein CBD, a 41-year-old man was arrested for dealing in crystal meth. Six undocumented individuals were detained, and several road traffic fines were issued.

Eastern Cape: Rural Crime and Firearms

In Mthatha, Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso launched the provincial leg of the operation on 27 June. She described Shanela 2 as a “deliberate escalation” of crime-fighting efforts.

Early successes include:

• Arrest of two suspects in Sulenkama for possession of 24 suspected stolen goats.

• In Lusikisiki, a 46-year-old was arrested for possession of a 9mm pistol linked to a civilian.

• A 39-year-old was arrested in Bajodini, Qumbu, for possession of an unlicensed revolver.

Gauteng: Urban Crime and Illegal Mining

In Johannesburg, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni led operations in Jeppe and Cleveland precincts. Detectives arrested 941 suspects for crimes including murder, attempted murder, hijacking, robbery, and rape.

• Roadblocks, raids, and mining disruption efforts resulted in 32 arrests for immigration violations, illegal mining, and drug-related offences.

• Fines totalling R24,500 were issued for traffic and by-law infringements.

At Mary Fitzgerald Square, officers held a coordinated parade before being deployed for stop-and-search operations throughout Johannesburg.

Western Cape: Tackling Gang and Liquor Offences

In Mfuleni, officers arrested a 23-year-old man for illegal liquor sales after a tip-off. A large quantity of alcohol was confiscated. The suspect is expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court.

Community Outreach and GBVF Focus

Alongside enforcement, SAPS has intensified outreach to rural communities. In Bloemspruit, station leadership held a session on policing accessibility and community engagement. Multiple arrests were made for drug possession, possession of dangerous weapons, and immigration offences.

Operation Shanela II is intended to focus acutely on combatting gender-based violence. SAPS reported the arrest of 2,367 rape suspects and 162 attempted rape suspects in the previous three months. Additionally, convictions have been secured in high-profile GBVF cases, including several life sentences handed down by regional courts for rape of minors and serial sexual offences.

Furthermore, General Masemola has urged all officers to conduct themselves with discipline and integrity, maintain high command and control, and continue their efforts to “track and trace all wanted criminals.” He reaffirmed the SAPS’s commitment to creating safer communities and enhancing public trust in law enforcement.

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The occasion will also be attended by the Guest of Honour, Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo and the highest echelons of SAPS leadership, such as Divisional Commissioner of Detectives and Forensic Services, Lieutenant General HK Senthumule. Over 2,000 members of the community, such as students, traditional leaders, civil society members, and religious organisations, will attend mobilisation.

These community-based activities form part of the government-led wider program to provide women and children with safe spaces, awareness, and open discussions on the underlying causes of GBV.

The Imbizo will offer the residents a platform to express their lived experiences and frustrations and receive feedback on current government and police response. There will be a keynote address from Premier Ramathuba, reaffirming Limpopo’s provincial response and prevention strategy on GBVF.

Why Thohoyandou?

Thohoyandou in Vhembe District is one of the GBV hotspots in recent SAPS crime data. Sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and child abuse have all escalated in the last 12 months. These facts make the town a priority location for high-level engagement with government, traditional leadership, and grassroots mobilization.

Speaking earlier on to the media, Limpopo Premier’s Office senior spokesperson, Thilivhali Muavha who applauded the organised march stated that, “The selection of Thohoyandou is intentional”. “This is not tokenistic visibility alone – it is taking leadership to the frontline of the people in the communities where they are suffering.”

SAPS: A resolute force against GBV

The participation of SAPS at the highest levels indicates the on-going dedication of the police service to preventing, investigating, and partnering with the community to fight GBV.

SAPS have introduced a range of GBVF-specific interventions over the last two years, such as Operation Basadi – a continuous campaign of the SAPS Women’s Network and Men for Change to advocate the safety of women and gender equity within police ranks and communities.

The 2024 National Dialogues on GBV in all nine provinces, where SAPS co-chaired sessions with civil society to foster public trust and accountability.

The 2025 Anti-GBV Training Rollout that has capacitated more than 8,000 officers in victim-centered policing techniques and forensic interviewing.

Earlier this year, SAPS Limpopo opened a Mobile Victim Support Centre in Giyani, and reopened the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit satellite station in Jane Furse, demonstrating the determination of the police to broaden access to justice for victims.

Brigadier General Hlulani Mashaba reaffirmed that SAPS still focuses on “rapid response mechanisms, better case management, and forensic evidence collection” as fundamental pillars of their GBVF approach.

From strategy to street-level action

The National Strategic Plan on GBVF (2020-2030) of South Africa is still the overarching plan for all government departments. Its pillars include accountability, prevention, protection, justice, and healing.

Premier Ramathuba, known for her dynamic leadership style, has anchored Limpopo’s GBV prevention program to this strategy. She recently called for “total societal change” and “zero tolerance for GBV enablers – whether in homes, boardrooms or government corridors”.

Friday’s Imbizo and march are just months ahead of Women’s Month and are being viewed as a springboard for more focused interventions, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. The fact that institutions of higher learning were involved also speaks to an acknowledgment that GBV is disproportionately affecting students and young women.

A community-owned future

The event is being organised in collaboration with: Traditional Leaders, whose support is important in transforming dangerous cultural norms; Faith-Based Organisations, which will offer prayers and trauma counseling; Youth and Student Movements, who are the next line of advocacy; Women-operated NGOs, offering shelter, counseling, and legal support to victims.

“We are marching and not for awareness,” Muavha, the Premier’s spokesperson, said.

“We are marching for action, accountability, and healing.”

Deputy Minister Boshielo will also present recent developments in legislation to strengthen sentencing and bail for GBV-related offenses.

However, as the sun rises on 23 May over Thohoyandou, there will be marching in the thousands – not in protest, but in solidarity. The peaceful March and Imbizo are not just activities, but a collective statement that the people of Limpopo will not normalise violence. With intergovernmental unity, police action, and community ownership, a new chapter is being written in combating GBV.

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