WOMEN’S DAY 1956-2026: Numbers game cannot cure South Africa of its violence gender-based violence

On Women’s Day 2026, marking 70 years since the 1956 anti-pass march, South Africa faces ongoing challenges regarding gender-based violence. Despite the passage of time, the state continues to rely on statistical tracking and budgetary allocations to address the crisis.

Critics argue that these quantitative measures fail to demonstrate whether government interventions are actually effective or fit for purpose. The focus remains on whether current state strategies are capable of curbing the prevalence of violence against women in the country.