Activists slam government for rejection of GBV national disaster plea

THE National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has rejected calls by activist group Women For Change (WFC) to have gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) declared a national disaster, arguing that such classification does not align with the Disaster Management Act (DMA).

- XOLILE MTEMBU

This is ahead of the national shutdown by the organisation on Friday, November 21, ahead of the G20 summit. The group's campaign has gone viral with thousands of social media users turning their profile pictures purple in support.

In a letter released by the group, NDMC head Dr Ellias Sithole said that while the Centre recognises the severity of the crisis, GBVF cannot logically or lawfully be considered a disaster under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act and therefore cannot be categorised or declared as such.

Sithole was responding to a petition by WFC founder Sabrina Walter, who had written to the Presidency requesting urgent action to treat GBVF as a national emergency.