Sifuba Launches End GBV 100-Day Challenge
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
By formally initiating a counter-campaign against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation (SACR), has taken a daring step toward tackling one of South Africa's most urgent societal challenges.
This follows Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga’s launch of the End GBVF Dashboard on 26 March 2025, which is South Africa’s first national public-facing tool that is designed to track progress, identify service gaps and prioritise areas for improvement in the fight against GBVF. The dashboard, which is being rolled out throughout the country, aims to offer unconditional support to victims. On Tuesday 8 July 2025, Sifuba proactively launched the Free State’s End GBVF Dashboard campaign and outlined the goals of the 100-Day challenge, which is set to focus on breaking the silence of GBV among community members and victims.
“Our first focus is breaking the silence; we must increase the number of survivors who come forward and report their experiences of GBV. “This concretely means that in our sector of sport, arts, culture, and recreation, we must mobilise our stakeholders within this sector,” she said, adding that some of their goals are focused on healing the wounds of survivors by offering them high-quality care, support and counselling to overcome the trauma.
In their pledge of support to the initiative, president of the Free State Sport Confederation (FSSC), Edward Saunderson, highlighted that there is no excuse for violence against women and children.
“I encourage civil society to talk about this because our young children are the future of this country…and when we hurt them, we hurt the future. “Let us make sure to stand united, not only to make noise but also to take action against gender-based violence because it doesn't know colour or social class. Let us stop it now,” he added.
Saunderson concluded by reminding people that this is Mandela month and that they should help in the fight against GBVF. Organisations such as Buang Banna and the Free State Warriors Football Club have also thrown their weight behind the campaign.
