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Government’s recent announcement labelling Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) as a National Crisis at the G20 Social Summit \u2014 followed by its official classification as a National Disaster \u2014 has sparked mixed reactions, with experts warning that the move may not have the practical impact many expect.<\/p>\n
GBV advocacy group, the Tears Foundation,\u00a0 says the messaging has created confusion, as the National Disaster Management Centre\u2019s classification does not equate to a full national disaster declaration.<\/p>\n
A formal declaration would be required to unlock extraordinary powers, fast-track resources, and compel coordinated emergency interventions. For now, none of those mechanisms have been activated.<\/p>\n
Speaking to YNews, Tears Foundation\u2019s Celeste Louw, said the inconsistent language \u2014 shifting between “national crisis” and “national disaster” without any additional powers or funding attached \u2014 risks rendering the announcement another symbolic gesture, similar to promises made in 2019 and 2020.<\/p>\n\t
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\t\tplay_arrow<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tActivists call for stronger action after government classifies GBVF as national disaster<\/span>\n\t\t\tNokwazi Qumbisa<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\n Gender and development specialist, Sixolile Ngcobo, also weighed in, noting that while the G20 summit was an appropriate platform for the announcement, it does not carry the weight of a formal national disaster.<\/p>\n “Because when you announce something as a national disaster, then you are immediately going to have an emergency plan. And that emergency plan is also going to be funded. And it will also be operating at a cabinet level. And I have not had any of those things up to date, because when the announcement is made, then we also need to have a lead minister who is then allocated to lead on dealing with this crisis, ” Ngcobo said.<\/p>\n\t \n\t\t\tActivists call for stronger action after government classifies GBVF as national disaster<\/span>\n\t\t\tNokwazi Qumbisa<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\n Ngcobo emphasized that a crisis declaration alone does not activate emergency powers or address systemic failures.<\/p>\n “So at this stage, it’s really more like a wait-and-see type of thing. And it’s an announcement that is necessary, but it’s a wait-and-see because I don’t know what comes next. We haven’t heard anything yet.”<\/p>\n GBVF Classified as a National Disaster<\/p>\n Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa welcomes the NDMC\u2019s decision to classify Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd17 Full statement: https:\/\/t.co\/CCwK5UzMs9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/d0Gt9zO0yM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NationalCoGTA \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 (@NationalCoGTA) November 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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