In 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa likened violence perpetrated by men against women to a second pandemic in the country, following COVID-19.

On Friday, hundreds of women gathered and marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of the South African government, to protest against the ongoing violence and abuse of women. The march, organized by the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL), was part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

The protest saw the participation of several women’s groups and non-governmental organizations. The demonstrators were expected to present a memorandum of demands to the office of the president.

The march was prompted by the alarming rise in femicide cases. Former ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini emphasized the significance of the protest, pointing out the increasing prevalence of women’s abuse and femicide in the country. “We are here to pledge our solidarity with women killed in Gender-based violence (GBV),” she said, adding that GBV is indiscriminate and affects women across all social classes and races.

Nokuthula Nqaba, the Secretary General of ANCWL, stated that GBV is a societal issue that demands collective responsibility. She called on all citizens to actively address the crisis facing the nation.

In 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa referred to the violence against women as a second pandemic, following COVID-19. This week, during the launch of the campaign in Rustenburg, Deputy President Paul Mashatile noted that combating violence against women requires sustained action throughout the year, not just within the 16 days of the campaign.