The South African government is facing renewed calls to reclassify gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster, this time with dedicated funding to address the crisis. The call comes amid a surge in demand for support, with 589 calls to the GBV Command Centre in a single day. MPs across party lines argue that the current classification, made under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, has not led to tangible improvements or dedicated funding.
The classification of GBVF as a national disaster was made in November last year, following pressure from civil society advocacy groups who organised nationwide protests. However, the government opted to use a section of the Act that allows departments to reprioritise existing funds, rather than Section 27, which has been used for natural catastrophes like floods and Covid-19 and unlocks emergency funding. MPs and the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) argue that this approach has limited the impact of the declaration.
The portfolio committee on women, youth and persons with disabilities noted that the GBVF crisis is worsening despite the declaration, and that the current approach has given people "false hope." Committee chair Liezl van der Merwe said that the government must invoke a section of the Act that would allow the National Treasury to release funds to address the crisis. She argued that additional funding could be used to employ more social workers, buy more rape kits, and train police officers on GBVF issues.
Shoki Tshabalala, a deputy director-general at the department of women, youth and persons with disabilities, confirmed that the classification did not receive any new funding and relied on the reprioritisation of existing budgets. She said that a work stream is looking at how to mobilise resources beyond existing budget baselines, but that the GBVF national disaster response remains largely unfunded. Tshabalala attributed the lack of funding to the government's fiscal constraints at the time of the classification.
The CGE has backed MPs' calls for a revised classification, with commissioner Princess Eurika Mogane explaining that the current approach has not led to tangible improvements. Mogane highlighted the importance of understanding the classifications and sections invoked, as this plays a major role in determining the response to the crisis. She argued that Section 27, used for natural catastrophes, bypasses bureaucratic inertia and unlocks funding and extraordinary executive powers.
In response to the crisis, MPs are urging the government to take a more proactive approach to addressing GBVF. Van der Merwe argued that the government must demonstrate a commitment to addressing the crisis, rather than simply making declarations without dedicated funding. She said that the government must "go back, change that declaration, don't use the part of the act that you used before that says it's a self-funded disaster and properly declare it as a disaster."
The call for a revised classification comes amid a growing crisis, with demand for support services surging. The GBV Command Centre received 589 calls in a single day, highlighting the need for a more effective response to GBVF. MPs and advocacy groups argue that a revised classification with dedicated funding is necessary to address the crisis and provide support to affected communities.
Key points
- MPs are calling for GBVF to be reclassified as a national disaster under Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act, which would unlock emergency funding.
- The current classification of GBVF as a national disaster has not led to tangible improvements or dedicated funding.
- A revised classification with dedicated funding could be used to employ more social workers, buy more rape kits, and train police officers on GBVF issues.
