Government urges early reporting of gender-based violence

Social Development Minister Dina Pule has urged South Africans to report cases of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) before they escalate, calling on communities not to remain silent when they recognise warning signs.

According to the South African Government News Agency (SAnews), Pule made the appeal as the country prepares to mark Women’s Month in August.

ALSO READ: Health teams educate residents on GBV during Human Rights Month

She said addressing GBVF requires collective action from both men and women, adding that early reporting could help prevent further harm.

“When you see the signs of gender-based violence and femicide, you must not wait until it is too late. You must immediately inform the police and social workers, who will come in to assist so that we avoid bigger challenges. If we don’t break the silence, we end up in very serious situations,” Pule said in an interview with the Government Communication and Information System.

Pule said her involvement in women’s organisations from a young age gave her first-hand insight into the challenges faced by women, girls and older women, many of whom continue to experience abuse.

She said the prevalence of GBVF has prompted government to treat the issue as a national priority.

ALSO READ: Bertha Gxowa Care Centre manager wins top GBV activist award
The minister also called on men to play an active role in preventing violence against women.

“There is no man who was not born of a woman, and I don’t understand how any man would want to hurt women,” she said.

Pule said Women’s Month should not only raise awareness of GBVF but also encourage meaningful action to reduce violence against women.

Women’s Month is observed annually in August to honour the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, in protest against the apartheid government’s pass laws.

ALSO READ: Gauteng MEC condemns child abuse, calls for urgent action on GBV

The commemoration celebrates the contribution of women to South African society while highlighting the challenges they continue to face.

Despite constitutional protections and ongoing interventions, gender-based violence and femicide remain among South Africa’s most pressing social challenges. Government, civil society organisations and communities continue working to prevent violence, support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.