The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations in South Africa has announced plans to scrutinize the funding allocated to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane stated that he will formally invite Minister of Social Development Dina Pule to appear before the committee to assess whether the current funding is sufficient. This move comes in response to recent incidents, including the discovery of multiple female bodies in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
The committee's intervention is crucial, especially after the President declared GBV and femicide a national disaster last year. Maimane emphasized the need for sufficient funding to prevent violence against women through visible policing, victim support, prosecution, and community-based programs. The committee will also engage with acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia regarding the planning and funding required to address the GBV crisis.
Despite a substantial police budget of approximately R127 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, concerns persist about the police-to-population ratio, with one officer for every 427 residents. Maimane stressed that the police must assure the public that effective preventive measures are being implemented to curb GBV. South Africa must begin to see tangible results from the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, adopted in 2020.
The committee will write to relevant National Assembly committees to ensure that GBV and its funding requirements remain a priority on Parliament's agenda. Maimane mentioned that if necessary, the committee will engage in longer discussions on legislative processes related to funding for GBV matters. The committee's goal is to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to combat GBV effectively.
The recent incidents in Ekurhuleni have highlighted the urgency of addressing GBV in South Africa. The community is calling for justice and effective measures to prevent such crimes. Family members of the victims have pleaded for the reinstatement of the death penalty, while top police officials, including Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Dumisani Khumalo, have been tasked with helping to solve the Ekurhuleni murders.
Mmusi Maimane, as the leader of the BOSA and chairperson of the Appropriations committee, had previously tabled the report on the Appropriations Bill in the National Assembly on 23 July 2025. The committee's scrutiny of GBV funding is part of a broader effort to ensure that the government allocates sufficient resources to address this critical issue.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations is taking a proactive approach to addressing GBV by examining the funding allocated to respond to this crisis. By engaging with key ministers and stakeholders, the committee aims to ensure that South Africa makes progress in preventing and combating GBV.
Key points
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations will scrutinize funding for GBV response.
- Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane will formally invite Minister of Social Development Dina Pule to appear before the committee.
- The committee seeks to ensure sufficient funding for visible policing, victim support, prosecution, and community-based programs to prevent GBV.
