Limpopo courts launch 100-Day push to clear GBVF backlogs
Limpopo court teams have launched a 100-day challenge to cut GBVF case backlogs, speed up justice, and improve the experience for survivors.
LIMPOPO – For many survivors of gender-based violence, seeking justice often means repeated court dates, postponed hearings, missing dockets, and months of uncertainty.
To change that, court teams across Limpopo have launched their End GBVF 100-Day Challenges, with targets to cut backlogs, speed up cases, and make the court experience less traumatic for survivors.
Faster access to justice
“For the 100-Day Challenge, court teams are actively rethinking how they can work to provide faster access to justice,” said Nomgqibelo Mdlalose, movement navigator for the programme.
“Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases can be complex and involve multiple players such as NPA officials, SAPS, DOJCD, Correctional Services, the judiciary, Legal Aid South Africa and private practitioners. So, having everyone at the table and working toward shared goals is key to faster resolutions and enabling survivors to start healing.”
Challenge aims
Launched in May this year, the Justice Sector 100-Day Challenge is aligned with Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF: Justice, Safety, and Protection.
The goals include:
- Reducing GBVF case backlogs
- Increasing monthly finalisation rates
- Cutting case withdrawals
- Improving how survivors are treated in court
What each court is tackling
| Court | Target |
|---|---|
| Seshego Court | Reduce sexual offence backlog by 25% (44 matters on the roll for over two years) |
| Lephalale Regional Court | Cut backlog of 306 cases by 40% within 100 days |
| Thabimbi Regional Court | Clear all 97 outstanding divorce backlog cases |
| Tzaneen Magistrate Court | Reduce all outstanding divorce backlogs and clear dormant matters |
| Morebeng Regional Court | Finalise 30 sexual offence cases in 100 days |
| Giyani | Clear 300 divorce matters recorded on the system |
| Thohoyandou District Court | Reduce 250 backlog cases by 80% |
| Sibasa Regional Court | Clear 121 backlog cases and 157 open sexual offence matters, while improving turnaround times |
A track record of success
The programme has a track record of rapid impact:
- 2022: 11 courts cut GBVF backlogs by 98%.
- 2023: Limpopo domestic violence courts increased case finalisation from 42% to 78%.
- 2024: Teams cut domestic violence backlogs by 86%.
- 2025: Thohoyandou Magistrate Court finalised 889 of 1 039 backlog cases (86% completion rate). Nkowankowa and Ga-Kgapane cleared their full domestic violence backlogs, with Nkowankowa using virtual hearings to reach 100%.
What happens next
“The current cycle of the Justice Sector 100-Day Challenge commenced during May and June 2026 and will continue over the next 100 days.
Participating courts will track progress against their goals and share lessons that can strengthen justice responses to GBVF across the country,” Mdlalose said.
The plan focuses on creating a safe, violence-free environment and sets clear, strategic outcomes around six pillars: accountability, prevention, justice, response, economic empowerment, and research.
