Social workers and activists have called for dedicated courtrooms, protected court rolls and more police officers dealing with Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) cases following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s commitments to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Godongwana announced during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday that, over three years, the government would allocate R3.8 billion to employ more than 3,500 social workers, R186 million to strengthen forensic and investigative capacity and R157.4m for national GBVF coordination and oversight.
Survivors face years of court postponements
The plan also includes expanding sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80 by 2028/29.
For those working on the ground, the funding must improve how sexual-offences cases are handled in court and protect the identities of victims and witnesses.
Phelisa Mashiyi, a senior social worker and programmes director at the Callas Foundation, said dedicated courtrooms and protected court rolls would help ensure stronger cases and avoid repeated postponements.
“Callas Foundation welcomes the funding commitments announced in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, particularly the planned expansion of sexual offences courts. Our concern is whether this investment will reduce the prolonged delays survivors experience in accessing justice,” said Mashiyi.
“Through our court accompaniment work, we have supported survivors whose matters are still ongoing in their sixth year. That is an enormous emotional and financial burden.
“Every court appearance requires preparation. Survivors may take time off work, arrange childcare and find money for transport, only to arrive and hear that the matter has been postponed again.
“Repeated postponements also prolong uncertainty and can intensify trauma.
“We would like to see dedicated courtrooms or protected court rolls for GBV matters, supported by trained judicial officers, prosecutors and court personnel. Expanding sexual offences courts is welcome, but other GBV cases also need dedicated attention. Court capacity must include effective case management and co-ordination so that matters are ready to proceed.”
Investigations and prosecutions must improve
Mashiyi said some cases remained before the courts for years without an urgent review.
An example is the case of Cytheria Rex, who was 17 when she was stabbed more than 40 times, raped and placed inside a dustbin in Kraaifontein in 2009.
In June this year, 17 years after the murder, her killers were sentenced to life imprisonment, while others received 25-year sentences after more than 120 postponements, the magistrate dying including two accused.
“Cases that have been ongoing for years need urgent review to establish what is causing the delays and how they can be progressed, while upholding fair-trial rights,” said Mashiyi.
“The test of this budget will be whether survivors experience a justice system that responds with urgency, care and dignity."
Frontline services remain under pressure
Siyabulela Monakali, communications manager at Ilitha Labantu, said the success would depend on effective investigations and improved prosecutions.
“The full implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF requires clearly defined responsibilities, adequate resources, measurable targets and accountability mechanisms. Similarly, expanding sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80 by 2028/29 must be accompanied by effective investigations, improved prosecution outcomes and survivor-centred services,” he said.
“Access to justice cannot be measured by the existence of specialised facilities alone, but by whether survivors receive timely support and perpetrators are held accountable.”
Mara Glennie, founder of the TEARS Foundation, warned that government strategies and increases in personnel would fail to improve outcomes if they did not strengthen frontline capacity.
Police and forensic backlogs threaten progress
She said this included filling critical police vacancies, keeping emergency vehicles operational and protecting funding for non-profit shelters.
“For the survivor, this lack of frontline capacity means the state’s structural failures will continue to overshadow any policy announcements, leaving them vulnerable precisely when and where they need protection most,” Glennie said.
Activist and founder of the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit, Candice van der Rheede, called for more dedicated FCS police officers.
“The Delft FCS has 12 detectives, and they service four precincts: Belhar, Ravensmead, Bellville South and Delft,” she said.
“How many areas are not covered by those precincts? What is the ratio of detectives to community members?
“Look at the backlog in forensics. How many detectives have to wait for this? They cannot do their jobs, and the cases are postponed again because of the backlog. Meanwhile, our victims and survivors are suffering.
“Every postponement prolongs their pain.”