Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga briefed the media Monday on the operationalisation of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Council [1].

The move represents a strategic shift in how the government intends to coordinate its response to systemic violence against women and marginalized groups. By establishing a dedicated council, the state aims to centralize oversight and accelerate the implementation of safety protocols across various departments.

Chikunga said the steps being taken ensure the council becomes a functional entity rather than a symbolic gesture. The operationalisation process involves aligning various government agencies to create a unified front against femicide and gender-based violence [1]. This effort is part of a broader government mandate to step up the fight against these crimes [1].

The briefing occurred on Aug. 31, 2026 [1]. While specific budgetary allocations or timelines for the council's first set of mandates were not detailed in the initial briefing, the focus remains on the structural setup required to make the council operational.

The GBVF Council is expected to serve as a coordinating body that bridges the gap between policy creation and on-the-ground enforcement. The government said that a centralized authority can better track the progress of existing GBV strategies and identify gaps in the justice system where victims often face hurdles.

As the council begins its work, the administration is emphasizing the need for inter-departmental cooperation. This approach seeks to integrate the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers, and social services to provide a comprehensive support system for survivors of violence [1].

“The government is stepping up its fight against gender-based violence and femicide.”

The operationalisation of the GBVF Council indicates a transition from policy drafting to active institutional management. By creating a formal body to oversee these efforts, the South African government is attempting to solve the problem of fragmented responses to gender-based violence, moving toward a model of centralized accountability to track whether anti-violence initiatives are actually reducing crime rates.