The fight against gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa has a new, urgent demand: a dedicated treasury fund, ring-fenced and untouchable, to ensure that the nation’s words of condemnation are finally backed by meaningful financial muscle. That was the unambiguous message delivered by the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) on Monday, as its members marched to the National Treasury offices in Tshwane, their voices rising in unison against a crisis that has become a national shame.
Leading the picket was Acting President Nokuthula Nqaba, who, alongside a determined contingent of league members, handed over a memorandum to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. The document was clear and uncompromising: the government must establish a dedicated fund, specifically allocated to combating gender-based violence and femicide, with transparent mechanisms for disbursement and accountability. The marchers argued that while policy frameworks and task teams exist, they are rendered toothless without guaranteed, sustained financial backing.
The timing of the protest is significant. South Africa continues to grapple with some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, with women and children bearing the brunt of a deeply entrenched culture of patriarchy and impunity. The ANCWL’s call reflects a growing frustration among civil society and political formations alike that promises of action have too often been followed by inadequate budgetary allocations.
Speaking to the crowd outside Treasury, Nqaba stressed that the fight against GBV cannot be a side-note in the national budget—it must be a line item of its own, protected from the competing priorities that often dilute critical social spending. “We are tired of commemorating; we want resources to prevent,” she declared. The march concluded peacefully, but the message lingers: the women of South Africa are watching, and they are holding their leaders accountable to a budget that protects, not abandons, its daughters.
About The Author
