Women’s Day: R141 million pledged for GBVF Fund – Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the GBVF Private Sector Response Fund, which was launched earlier this year, has already managed to receive approximately R141 million in pledges.

Ramaphosa delivered his official Women’s Day address on Monday, 9 August 2021.

The GBVF Response Fund was established as a measure to address the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide in the country, which government has often been accused of ignoring.

The president has called on businesses, donors, philanthropists and individuals to contribute to the Fund’s work. He also said that government has allocated approximately R21 billion over the next three years to support the six pillars of the National Strategic Plan, one of which is to ensure women’s economic and financial inclusion.

“One way we are achieving this is by creating procurement opportunities for women- owned businesses within the public sector supply chain,” he said.

 “Last year we announced that 40 per cent of public procurement should go to women-owned or -operated businesses, and we are calling on the private sector to make a similar commitment to enhance the empowerment of the women of our country”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa on response to gender-based violence

Still touching on the theme of gender-based violence, President Cyril Ramaphosa said it had been a year since the launch of National Strategic Plan to end gender-based violence and femicide.

“It has been greatly encouraging that different segments of society, from the faith community, to business, to developmental partners, to broader civil society – that they have all taken ownership of the National Strategic Plan and made it an important part of their work,” he said.

Ramaphosa said strides have since been made, a year later, despite the plan coinciding with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As part of the work to provide justice and support to survivors of gender-based violence, 32 regional courts have been designated as sexual offences courts in various parts the country. Around 3,500 Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences investigating officers have received specialised training to do their work,” he said.

Ramaphosa also added that 12 public buildings have been renovated and repurposed to be used as shelters, and work has been done to ensure that all police stations in the country have sexual assault evidence kits.