R186m GBV budget risks becoming ‘lip service’, warns Action Society

The government's budget allocation for addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa has come under fire from the Action Society. The R186-million funding, announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, may not effectively improve justice for women and children unless the government provides a detailed implementation plan.

Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez cautioned that simply attaching a monetary value to promises is not sufficient. Victims of GBVF need to know when evidence will be processed and who is responsible for advancing their cases. The budget includes R3.8 billion for 3,500 social workers to prevent GBVF, R186 million for forensic and investigative capacity, and R157 million for the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities to improve oversight of the government's GBVF response.

The government also plans to increase specialized sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80, with targets set for 2029. However, Action Society demands more transparency regarding how the R186 million will be allocated, including the number of additional analysts and specialist detectives it will fund, the reduction in backlogs, and the deadlines for stalled cases.

The organization acknowledges the recruitment of social workers and the planned expansion of sexual offences courts and Thuthuzela Care Centres but warns that these services alone will not suffice if investigations and prosecutions remain weak. Action Society also proposes private partnerships with accredited private laboratories and specialist technical experts to process evidence and strengthen capacity, alongside continued investment in public laboratories and specialist investigators.

The group emphasizes that permanent improvements that survive beyond a budget speech or temporary deployment are needed to ensure women and children's safety and justice.