I_Menstruate founder and executive director Tracey Malawana (31), alongside Tshegofatso Mabilane (16), the organisation’s national learner representative, made history on April 1 at a Menstrual Health Colloquium in Parliament hosted by the Higher Education Portfolio Committee.

The two Thembisa-born changemakers delivered a presentation before Parliament on their drafted legislation, the Menstrual Health Equity Bill, aimed at ending period poverty in South Africa..

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Malawana said the bill took years to develop before it was launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2025 by Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike.

Shaped by their experiences in Thembisa and the challenges within the education system, the pair said they were intentional in the work presented to Parliament.

Malawana added that the bill was developed by ordinary citizens together with stakeholders, with its feasibility costed, an implementation plan created, and support secured from more than two million people before being formally handed over to Parliament.

“The bill was established to ensure that those who menstruate do so with dignity, safety and proper support from government,” said Malawana.

The research-based bill draws on lived experiences of girls in townships across the country, many of whom are unable to manage their menstruation effectively due to a lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate and unsafe facilities, and limited education around menstrual health.

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“When we speak of period poverty, we go beyond just free menstrual pads. We must refer back to the Constitution.

“We have a right to human dignity, equality and education, but also to bodily and psychological integrity. Girls need to be informed and have a say in the products they use,” she said.

Mabilane said her presentation in Parliament focused on the daily challenges faced by those who menstruate in schools, including limited access to products, a lack of education on the menstrual cycle, and persistent misconceptions that contribute to inequality.

“Girls need to know that menstruation is not taboo, but something they can take pride in. Access to pads is not a luxury but a necessity. Young girls should take a stand, fight for their rights and hold policymakers accountable,” Mabilane added.

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The pair continue to advocate for a period poverty-free South Africa, where no child has to miss school due to menstruation.

They have called on Parliament to implement the bill in the coming years, noting that while period poverty has long been an issue, it has yet to be addressed through structured action.

They hope the bill will outlive them, driving sustainable change beyond access to sanitary products and creating economic opportunities that benefit those who menstruate.