DSD ACCOUNTS TO PARLIAMENT ON MENSTRUAL DIGNITY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST GBVF

Cuma Pantshwa

• Period poverty continues to negatively affect the education of thousands of girls, especially those in no-fee schools, rural areas, and with disabilities, some missing up to 48 school days annually due to lack of access to sanitary products.
• The DSD announced plans to establish new shelters in the North West, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as Khuseleka One Stop Centres in four provinces.The department announced plans to establish new shelters in North West, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal, alongside Khuseleka One Stop Centres in four provinces.
• ⁠“These are not just programmes; they are lifelines for those who are often invisible.” a Member of Parliament commented

The Department of Social Development (DSD) appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to account for the work it has done in addressing menstrual health and dignity, as well as its role in responding to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

The session, chaired by MP Liezel van der Merwe, formed part of the department’s constitutional mandate to account to the people of South Africa on matters impacting vulnerable groups—particularly women, girls, and persons with disabilities.

The Sanitary Dignity Programme

Ms Desree Jason, Director for Programme and Policy Evaluation at DSD, presented an overview of the Sanitary Dignity Programme (SDP) and its ongoing implementation under the Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework (SDIF), which is split between the Department Basic Education covering five provinces and the DSD catering for four provinces through the Equitable Share budget.

The presentation outlined how period poverty continues to negatively affect the education of thousands of girls, especially those in no-fee schools, rural areas, and with disabilities, some missing up to 48 school days annually due to lack of access to sanitary products.

The SDP responds to this by ensuring the provision of free sanitary pads, integrating menstrual health education, improving WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure, and enabling economic inclusion of women and youth through local procurement.

Since the programme started in 2019 provinces such as Western Cape and Mpumalanga were commended for strong implementation however, procurement delays, budget underutilization, and unequal implementation across provinces were identified as persistent challenges.

Ms Jason explained that targeting can be improved in all four provinces, especially in primary schools, to prioritise girls with disabilities. The programme currently targets over 2.7 million learners, which is expected to increase significantly from the fourth quarter going forward.

DSD assured the Committee that it is working to integrate SDP indicators into national monitoring systems, improving coordination with provinces, and ensuring better service coverage—particularly for girls with disabilities and those in remote schools.

Provincial departments were also given an opportunity to present progress reports. While there was evidence of commitment and innovation in local rollouts, MPs expressed concern over inconsistencies in delivery, poor infrastructure in rural schools, and the lack of clarity in roles between DSD and DBE in some areas.

Committee members called for greater alignment between national and provincial departments, inclusion of local SMMEs, and stronger data systems to ensure no learner is left behind.

National GBVF Response: Strategic Plan and Service Gaps

Turning to the GBVF response, the Director of Victim Empowerment at the DSD, Mr Sibusiso Malope, updated on the department’s implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (2020–2030) and highlighted progress, including the provision of sheltering services and psychosocial support, but also noted the glaring gap between demand and available services.

Malope said there are currently 143 shelters across the country, with a total bed capacity of 4,252—a number far too small for the scale of need. He pointed out that fragmented interdepartmental coordination, limited infrastructure, and a shortage of deployed social workers remain pressing challenges.

In a heartfelt address, Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development, Ms Bukiwe Fanta, raised concerns about the ongoing trauma of rape survivors, especially children, citing the Cwecwe case as a recent example. She commended the quiet, compassionate work of social workers supporting survivors and their families, noting that confidentiality often keeps their efforts out of the public eye.

The Cwecwe case is an ongoing controversy and uproar surrounding the yet unsolved sexual assault and murder of a 7-year-old girl in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.

“I wish men knew how traumatic rape is, especially to the children. It is for life. But we are trying to heal them,” she said. “Our work is not loud because we are working with minors—so the issue of confidentiality is paramount.”

She emphasised the need to absorb social workers into core departments such as SAPS, Justice and Health, stating:

“It is our cry that all social workers get absorbed in these departments. Police should have social workers. Justice should take more social workers. But the budget is a problem.”

Key Recommendations and Next Steps

Following the presentations, the Committee made several strategic recommendations:

•⁠ ⁠Standardise SDP implementation across provinces to ensure consistency and impact.
•⁠ ⁠Accelerate the rollout of shelters and GBV support services, particularly in underserved areas.
•⁠ ⁠Finalise the 2025–2028 Evaluation and Research Agenda to enable evidence-based planning.
•⁠ ⁠Strengthen interdepartmental and private sector partnerships for resource mobilisation.
•⁠ ⁠Institutionalise trauma-informed psychosocial support across service points.
•⁠ ⁠Improve the deployment of social workers in GBV response and prevention.

The department announced plans to establish new shelters in the North West, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal, alongside Khuseleka One Stop Centres in four provinces. It is also working with HWSETA to secure funding to boost GBVF services in 30 identified hotspots.

Members of the Portfolio Committee said while notable progress has been made in several areas, a number of issues that still require urgent attention and improvement. These areas were flagged for follow-up, with a request for detailed written reports and an indication that they may be revisited for further discussion at the end of May.