7 year old's alleged rape reignites GBV protests across South Africa
“We can no longer treat GBV as a side issue,” said MP Lindiwe Nkosi. “It is an emergency that threatens the very fabric of our nation.”
Outrage is sweeping across South Africa after the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl at a primary school in Gauteng, triggering a fresh wave of protests against gender-based violence (GBV), reports Okay Africa.
The incident has reignited national fury over ongoing failures to protect women and children and has sparked renewed calls to declare GBV a national disaster.
The young girl was reportedly assaulted in a school bathroom during regular hours, allegedly by a staff member. The details of the case are still under investigation, but the community’s anger has been immediate and fierce.
Protests erupted in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and several rural towns as activists, parents, students, and civil society groups took to the streets. Demonstrators held up placards with messages like “Protect Our Children,” “Silence is Violence,” and “GBV is a National Crisis.”
"This is not an isolated incident," said protester and women's rights advocate Thandiswa Mbatha in Johannesburg.
"We are tired of living in a country where children are not safe in schools, where justice for survivors is delayed or denied, and where women and girls are treated as statistics instead of human beings."
Outside the school in Gauteng, where the assault allegedly occurred, angry parents gathered, demanding answers from school administrators.
Some called for the immediate resignation of education officials who they say failed to ensure proper background checks and safety protocols.
Social media has also amplified the protests, with hashtags like #JusticeForOurChildren, #GBVStateOfEmergency, and #EnoughIsEnough trending across platforms.
In parliament, opposition leaders and civil society organizations have renewed calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare GBV a national disaster — a move that would prioritize funding, response, and policy reform.
"We can no longer treat GBV as a side issue," said MP Lindiwe Nkosi.
"It is an emergency that threatens the very fabric of our nation."
South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, with thousands of cases going unreported or unresolved.
Despite past promises of reform, activists argue that little has changed on the ground, particularly for poor and marginalized communities.
As investigations into the case continue, the nation watches closely — not only for justice for the young girl but also for decisive action from leaders who, protesters say, have for too long remained silent.