As President Cyril Ramaphosa sets out to deliver his 7th State of the Nation Address (SONA), we are holding our breaths in anticipation of less promises and more action to address gender inequity health care, economic security, gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide, that has claimed the lives of one too many South Africans.

The recent report issued by the Minister of police Bheki Cele has highlighted once again that the rates of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa are increasing instead of going down. It has become normal to see headlines of yet another child, woman and LGBTQIA+ person who has been raped or ruthlessly killed.

Too many young lives have been lost and destroyed because of the failure to implement existing alcohol legislation and adopting new laws.

South Africa commemorates National Child Protection Week annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution and Children’s Act. This week is about ensuring that the most vulnerable in our communities are taken care of mentally, physically, and emotionally and the prevention of any kind of violence (physical, emotional, and sexual) and the exploitation of children.

In April, Namhla Mtwa was gunned down as she arrived home from work. The Eastern Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body caused her death. Yet, a month later, her family has to resort to pleading on social media to get any action from the police.

The implications of overturning Roe v. Wade are grave as it could set a dangerous precedence when one of the most powerful countries in the world seeks to curtail the sexual and reproductive rights of women.

Today we commemorate Human Rights Day to remind South Africans of the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa. However, today, South Africa is facing another struggle and we need to unite and address the violation of girls' and young women’s rights.

While this is yet another a great step towards HIV prevention, we should not forget the real culprit behind girls and young women’s increased risk to HIV infection – patriarchy.

The Soul City Institute for Social Justice is appalled by the overturning by Acting Judge Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and Judge Nyameko Gqamana of the seven-year prison sentence originally handed down to Loyiso Coko for raping his partner.

23 000 pregnancies among 10-19-year-olds in Gauteng, 934 unattended cases of statutory rape, 1300 new cases of HIV in 10–19-year-old girls every week, is unacceptable.

934 girls aged 10-14 years old in South Africa gave birth between April 2020 and March 2021 in Gauteng.

5 July 2021 - The Soul City Institute (SCI) notes with concern the attempted depowerment of Judge Sisi Khampepe by the former President Jacob Zuma’s Foundation.