15/09/2026
As a woman in South Africa, I am tired of feeling unsafe in my own country.
The women who have been brutally murdered were not statistics. They were human beings with families, relationships, dreams and futures.
Every life lost to crime and violence is one life too many. We cannot mourn today, become desensitised tomorrow, and move on until the next woman becomes a headline.
If GBVF is a national crisis, then we need a national response that matches the urgency of the crisis.
To the Presidency, I am calling for an urgent six-day National Women’s Conference, bringing together government, women’s organisations, youth, persons with disabilities, law enforcement, the justice sector, business, civil society, communities and other key stakeholders.
This is Policy! Six days. Six critical pillars.
Day 1 — ACCOUNTABILITY
Who is responsible, and what must change?
Day 2 — PREVENTION
How do we stop violence before it happens?
Day 3 — PROTECTION & SAFETY
How do we protect women before they become victims?
Day 4 — JUSTICE & ACCESS TO SERVICES
When violence happens, does the system work for the survivor?
Day 5 — ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT & INDEPENDENCE
Safety is also economic.
Day 6 — INFORMATION & RESEARCH
What does the evidence tell us, what are we missing, and how do we use data and research to drive better policy and action?
This cannot be another conference where we talk, take photographs and go home.
Every day must produce action. Every commitment must have an owner. Every promise must have a deadline. And implementation must be measured.
Our women cannot wait.
This is a call to action!
