The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission), have extended the Joint National Inquiry into the reporting, victim support, investigation and pre-trial functioning of the criminal justice system’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The extension follows an overwhelming response to the public call for submissions, reflecting significant public interest in the Inquiry and a broad commitment to strengthening South Africa’s response to GBVF.
The submissions have come from victims and survivors, families, civil society and community-based organisations, researchers, legal practitioners, service providers, academics, institutions, and members of the public.
The National Inquiry stems from the persistent scourge of violence against women across the country and concerns about systemic shortcomings that continue to undermine the effectiveness of the criminal justice system’s response to GBVF.
Despite various policy commitments and institutional mandates, the three Commissions said there was a need to examine the challenges within the system and identify areas requiring improvement.
The Inquiry is established in accordance with the constitutional mandate of Chapter 9 institutions to promote, protect, monitor, and assess the observance of constitutional rights and to make recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, equality, dignity, and access to justice.
“The Inquiry is based on the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), particularly Pillar 3, which seeks to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response through improved investigation, prosecution, survivor protection, integrated case management, institutional accountability and coordination between relevant State institutions.
““The National Joint Inquiry seeks to hold duty bearers accountable of issues, challenges and improvement that may be necessary to the justice system,” the Commissions said,” the Commissions said.
The Inquiry will be conducted in different phases, with the first phase focus specifically on Stage 1: Survivor Testimony and Lived Experiences and Stage 2: Pre-Trial Functioning and Accountability within the criminal justice system.
The Commissions said the public participation process will provide an important opportunity for affected individuals and stakeholders to share their experiences, identify systemic challenges and contribute to recommendations aimed at improving the response to GBVF.
The inquiry is scheduled to take place at Braampark Office Park in Braamfontein from 29 September to 02 October 2026. – SAnews.gov.za
