On April 4, 2025, the Generation Gender program—referred to as GenG—took an audacious leap forward with the launch of a trailblazing mobile app aimed at combating gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. This initiative seeks to bolster individual empowerment, facilitate connections between survivors and essential support services, and enhance the country’s overall approach to addressing GBVF. Spearheading this effort is the Generation G South African Coalition, which includes three key partners: Sonke Gender Justice, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, and Action Aid South Africa.
The event held in Rosebank, Johannesburg, gathered young activists, representatives from civil society organizations, proponents of gender equality, and others to bear witness to a pivotal moment in the drive for change.
Human-Focused Digital Solution for Justice
The recently introduced GenG Engage goes beyond being merely an application; it serves as a platform shaped by the real-life experiences of individuals who have survived gender-based violence and those of young people. Developed using a human-centric design methodology, this project involved active participation from youths and community members throughout the creation process. During the initial development stage, the Generation Gender team engaged with young persons from regions like KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape to ensure their varied perspectives were integrated effectively within the app’s framework. Users can utilize this tool for accessing various resources, including the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, along with features such as a case tracking system and supplementary educational materials designed for both prevention and education purposes.
The component for accessing information offers users a database of educational resources including policies, stance documents, reports, guidelines, and toolkits, along with various additional materials.
The Gen G Engage section serves as an interactive community hub where individuals can participate in conversations, vote in surveys, and keep abreast of current trends. This platform aims to boost cooperation among collaborators and various communities across different regions of South Africa.
“The GenG Engage application aims at enhancing community welfare and advancement. As more community organizations adopt this tool, our ability to monitor services related to gender-based violence will improve significantly. This platform serves as a mechanism to ensure accountability among those responsible. Furthermore, it provides a straightforward method for young people to interact, organize events, and make positive impacts within their respective communities.” — Namuma Mulindi, Policy Development and Advocacy Specialist at Sonke Gender Justice.
In South Africa, many Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) incidents go unreported. Systemic issues contribute to this problem; for instance, law enforcement often fails to support GBVF survivors effectively. Additionally, different branches within governmental agencies do not collaborate adequately, hindering efforts to aid both primary and secondary victims. Even though there is current legislation against GBVF, those responsible at the state level have shown sluggishness and indifference towards tackling these crimes. Furthermore, people from communities, advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations frequently remain unaware of the resources available to them.
South Africa’s latest crime data showed an increase in offenses tegen
women and children
had surged to 961 homicides and 1,661 attempted killings reported. Moreover, 11,803
rape cases
These reports were documented throughout the country. Clearly, tackling GBVF requires a multifaceted strategy.
At present, gender advocates, activists, or human rights defenders frequently encounter numerous requests for aid concerning GBV incidents. The help sought usually pertains to issues within the criminal justice framework. These supporters typically adhere to proper procedures when initiating cases; however, such instances often get delayed at the South African Police Service level, during judicial proceedings, or end up being dropped without adequate clarification. Although activists and victims generally grasp the broader narrative surrounding their claims, they might not consistently possess all necessary specifics to provide robust backing or ensure accountability from governmental officials involved in the legal process.
The case monitoring feature within the application will allow users to gather information tracking the SAPS case number, the court where the proceedings are taking place, the count of adjournments, and the explanations provided for these delays. Additionally, this tool will help monitor the effectiveness of the Thuthuzela Care Centers.
“The reports will assist us in highlighting the difficulties faced when attempting to obtain justice. The Gen G Engage app will serve as an online community hub designed for cooperation, support, and activism aimed at advancing gender equality,” stated Sakhile Zungu, Program Manager at ActionAid South Africa.
The application will enable activists to organize webinars and roundtables that everyone can join, along with broadcasting live talks. It will provide access to information, a dedicated resource section, and educational content like instructions for reporting incidents, GBVF stance documents, policy proposals, and guides on involving young people in community and leadership frameworks.
Looking Forward
As Gender-Based Violence and Feminicide (GBVF) wreak havoc throughout South African communities, digital advancements such as the GenG Engage App present chances to bridge the gap in both intervention and prevention efforts. This release signifies a crucial turning point in the mission to eradicate gender-based violence by adopting a people-focused strategy alongside leveraging technology aimed at upholding justice.
“South Africa’s youth possess significant untapped potential to tackle urgent societal problems we face today, such as gender-based violence and femicide. Social media platforms are progressively emerging as crucial instruments for amplifying the voices of young individuals in addressing these issues. These platforms enable youths to disseminate information, exchange resources, and increase awareness regarding the challenges they encounter,” explains Rammolotsi Sothoane, who serves as the Special Projects Manager at ACTIVATE! Change Drivers.
Generation Gender South Africa urges youth, government bodies, civil societies, and the private sector to unite in endorsing the app, aiding its ongoing enhancement, and guaranteeing that each survivor across the nation can attain security, assistance, and respect.
Download the GenG Engage app now—from either your Play or App Store—and join the movement toward gender equality.
The Generation Gender initiative is an international coalition operating across seven nations—Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Rwanda, Uganda, Indonesia, and South Africa—with the mission to build a world free from gender-based injustice and violence, specifically tailored for and alongside youth in all their varied expressions. In South Africa, the Generation G program collaborates through a local alliance consisting of three organizations: Sonke Gender Justice, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, and ActionAid South Africa. These partners work together to achieve the goals set forth by the Generation G Program within the country.
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