The Eastern Cape Government is urging a united front against Gender-Based Violence as it launched the 2025 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign at Ntibaneni Village in Ngcobo, Chris Hani District Municipality. Anchored on the theme, Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End GBVF,” the campaign calls on all sectors of society to stand together in confronting the ongoing national crisis of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Delivering the keynote address, Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane affirmed government s commitment to intensifying action following the national classification of GBVF as a disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act. He noted that this designation empowers the state to strengthen both preventative and responsive measures across the province.

The Eastern Cape has already scaled up several interventions to curb GBVF. These include strengthening gender machinery programmes and enhancing the coordination role of municipal Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to support victims and improve community-level response. The province has also expanded substance-abuse prevention programmes in collaboration with local partners, addressing one of the key drivers of violence.

To date, 4 348 community members have benefited from GBV prevention and awareness activities across all eight districts. Psychosocial services, including trauma counselling and referrals, have been provided to 5 391 victims of violence, ensuring survivors receive timely and appropriate support. Additionally, the deployment of trained Community Safety Ambassadors has boosted safety education, crime-prevention awareness and community mobilisation efforts.

Premier Mabuyane reiterated that ending GBVF requires a whole-of-society approach anchored in prevention, survivor support and accountability. He also called for renewed efforts to socialise the boy-child differently, promoting values of respect, compassion and non-violence.

We will not fail our women and children,” he said. Let this campaign ignite a movement of collective responsibility to end GBVF once and for all.”