The South African government has acknowledged persistent deficiencies in the criminal justice system’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), despite improvements in infrastructure and training. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga made the admission on 13 November 2026 during a strategic meeting with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) focused on Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF, which targets Justice, Safety and Protection.
Chikunga outlined ongoing challenges including limited access to justice, secondary victimisation, poor case management, low conviction rates, inadequate investigative capacity, and a lack of coordination. “These challenges are real, and government remains committed to addressing them decisively,” she said. However, she also pointed to a worsening backlog of sexual offences cases and uneven evidence on case progression, service quality, and survivor experience. “Although system capacity has improved, timely, survivor-centred case outcomes remain the real test,” Chikunga added.
Progress highlighted by the government includes the establishment of 14 sexual offences courts in the 2025/26 financial year and the upgrading of 40 district courts to better support survivors of domestic violence. Additionally, 338 functional testimony facilities have been set up to allow for remote or protected testimony. Over the past five years, the National Register for Sex Offenders issued 153,847 clearance certificates, with 79,179 issued by March 2026 alone.
Training efforts have seen the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) complete GBVF-specific training for 221 prosecutors, though this falls short of the 800 target. From January to June 2026, 1,185 law enforcement officers participated in GBV-related learning programmes. Moreover, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has formed over 40 Rapid Response Teams to improve coordination in GBVF cases nationwide. A national GBVF services dashboard now aids in mapping available services to enhance planning and resource allocation.
Despite these strides, the sexual offences backlog remains a significant concern, signalling delays that affect justice for survivors. The CGE engagement reflects public pressure on the justice system to deliver not only policy commitments but measurable outcomes. The government reported that Pillar 3 enjoys the strongest five-year performance record among the NSP’s six pillars, achieving 31 of 54 set indicators, with 14 in progress and 9 unmet.
In a complementary announcement, the government unveiled a R5.1 billion funding package aimed at bolstering its GBVF response. This includes R3.8 billion earmarked for social workers, R186 million to enhance forensic and investigative capability, and plans to expand sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80 by the 2028/29 financial year.
The national picture described by Chikunga highlights both progress and ongoing strain: while infrastructure, training, and coordination have improved, survivor-centred justice outcomes remain inconsistent. This situation has local repercussions across provinces, including the Western Cape, where survivor access to timely justice and support services continues to be a critical issue.
Chikunga’s remarks, made during a briefing in Cape Town, come amid wider national debate following the extension of the Joint National Inquiry into the criminal justice system’s handling of GBVF cases in late September 2026 after strong public engagement. The inquiry’s findings and government responses will be closely watched by communities and advocacy groups demanding more effective GBVF justice interventions.
Cape Flats News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available from the CGE report and government implementation progress.