South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. Everyday, thousands of survivors are living with the effects of GBV and these survivors are also part of the audience watching our films and television shows. So stories about gender-based violence are important. They can educate, raise awareness, challenge harmful beliefs and also encourage people to speak out, but there is a difference between telling an important story and showing graphic sexual violence in ways that are sometimes unnecessary or exploitative. Sometimes, our films and television series include long or graphic sexual assault scenes that add little to the story, and filmmakers have many other ways to show the seriousness of sexual violence without forcing audiences to watch the assault itself. Through strong acting, sound, editing and careful storytelling, they can communicate what happened while protecting the dignity of survivors. This campaign is not asking filmmakers to stop telling stories about gender-based violence, we understand that these stories matter and deserve to be told. Instead, we are asking the industry to think more carefully about how these stories are told, because sexual violence should never be used simply to shock audiences, create entertainment or develop a character. Recent public conversations on social media have shown us why this issue matters. The discussion surrounding allegations made during the production of Red Ink, involving actors Bonko Khoza and Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, sparked debate about how intimate scenes are filmed and whether enough is being done to protect actors and while the facts of that case remain disputed, it has reminded many South Africans that filming sexual violence comes with serious responsibilities. Survivors of sexual violence also deserve to be considered. Watching a graphic assault scene can be upsetting or retraumatising, especially when viewers are not given clear warnings about what they are about to see. Better content warnings and more thoughtful storytelling would allow people to make informed choices about what they watch. This campaign is about responsible storytelling, not censorship. We are not asking filmmakers to avoid difficult topics. We are asking them to tell these stories in ways that are ethical, respectful and survivor-centred. Our entertainment industry has the power to influence how society understands gender-based violence, and by reducing unnecessary graphic sexual assault scenes and adopting survivor-centred standards, filmmakers can continue telling powerful stories without turning trauma into entertainment. Survivors deserve to see their experiences treated with dignity, care and respect. Every film, every television series and every decision behind the camera shapes how millions of people understand sexual violence. If we stay silent, nothing changes. If we speak up today, we can encourage an industry to tell these important stories with dignity instead of exploitation. Survivors deserve to see their experiences treated with care, respect and humanity, not used as entertainment. You have the power to change how these stories are shown. Sign this petition and help us call on South Africa's film and television industry to adopt more responsible, survivor-centred standards for portraying sexual violence. Together, we can show that powerful storytelling never has to come at the expense of human dignity.

Right now, Treasury is considering how to tax alcohol for the next 10 years. This will mean increased taxes to reduce consumption and harm from alcohol. But the alcohol industry is fighting back to protect its profits. If enough of us come together, we can send Treasury a clear message that they must put people before profit.   Alcohol causes harm in so many ways. From fueling violence to clouding people’s judgment so much that they end up drinking and then driving or committing crimes. Alcohol misuse burdens our public health system, diverts police and traffic enforcement resources,  and increases social welfare costs.   Alcohol tax can be used to help fix the damage that alcohol causes. This means that more money can be put in the public services purse to help deal with the harm that alcohol causes.   That extra Fund tax can be used for: 1.  Jobs and for community programmes - We have a high unemployment rate as a country; our youth are idle, with nothing to do in their communities because community programmes are scarce. The tax collected can not only create jobs but also fund community, sports and recreational programmes that young people can engage in instead of drinking.  2. Treatment centres - There aren’t enough public rehabilitation centres in this country to match the level of alcohol use that happens. Even when people want to stop drinking, there are simply not enough places they can go to for support. We need to build more treatment centres, and the tax can be used for this. Let us come together to save our communities from the harm that is caused by alcohol.  Let us come together to save our communities from the harm that is caused by alcohol. 

Carotone has been scientifically proven to have high levels of a dangerous ingredient called hydroquinone [2]. Yet Takealot hosts it on its platform for people to buy. Many people don’t question the quality of the products they buy on the Takealot website because of how it markets itself. Carotone has been banned in the UK, US and other countries [3], but in South Africa, it is paraded online even though it's not safe to sell it to people without a prescription. Takealot must remove Carotone as soon as possible and ensure that all products listed on its platform are safe and legal to sell. We cannot allow Takealot to profit at the expense of people’s health. Judging by reviews dating back to 2022, it's clear that Carotone cream has been sold on Takealot for years, meaning they have been getting away with it for far too long. Some media houses have been blowing the whistle on the sale of harmful products on platforms like Takealot [1], yet nothing has changed. But we can stop this by signing this petition and ensuring that Takealot sells products that are vetted, legal and not harmful to people. [1]  Skin-lightening whitewash: Global and domestic bans of cosmetics containing mercury prove to  be skin-deep, by Tony Carnie for Daily Maverick, 15 February 2021 [2] FDA Warns Consumers of Skin Products Containing Mercury and/or Hydroquinone by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 06 January 2026. [3] Product Safety Report: Carotone Clarifying Cream (2501-0012g) by the UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards, 14 February 2025.

Why Your Voice Matters Violence against women and girls remains one of the greatest human rights challenges facing Africa. Every woman and girl deserves to live free from violence, discrimination and fear. Laws that affect millions of women and girls should be built through transparency, participation and careful scrutiny. They should strengthen the protections that African women have already fought for, not create uncertainty or weaken existing rights. That is why African women have spent decades fighting for stronger laws and greater protection. African women deserve the strongest possible legal protections against violence. Good laws are built through dialogue, accountability and public participation.  Taking time to improve this Convention is not delaying justice; it is helping to ensure that justice is stronger, more effective and more enduring for future generations. By signing this petition, you are calling for a better Convention, a more transparent process and a stronger future for the rights of women and girls across Africa. Our Message  Pause. Listen. Strengthen the Convention. Then Ratify.  #PauseForPurpose  Learn more: https://aucevawg.org  

Right now, millions of young South Africans are locked out of opportunity simply because they cannot afford data. The problem: Data poverty = Job poverty  In South Africa, 1GB of data costs more than a loaf of bread. For unemployed youth in townships and rural wards like Thabazimbi, this means choosing between buying food or applying for a job online. 62% of South Africans say they cannot afford enough data to look for work. Government and companies now post 90% of jobs online. But if you don’t have Wi-Fi or data, you will never see them. At the same time, many people in our communities still rely on word-of-mouth and community notices for information. A physical job board brings opportunity directly to the people. The impact: This will change lives in every ward   1.  Jobs: Free Wi-Fi means a young person can apply for 10 jobs in a day instead of 1. Job boards mean even people without smartphones can see EPWP, municipal, and local business vacancies. 2.  Education: Learners and students can do research, submit assignments, and apply for NSFAS and bursaries without spending their grant money on data. 3.  Access to services: People can access SASSA, Home Affairs, and health information online for free. 4.  Small businesses: Spaza owners and street vendors can do online banking, marketing, and orders without data costs eating into their profit. This is about dignity and equality. Right now, opportunity only exists for people who can afford data. That is unfair.

The government will soon make a decision on the BIG policy, and we have a chance to act! We’ve already got the ANC over the line for saying they commit to a livable, dignified income for all – now we need to hold them to account until their promise is a reality.

Thousands of South Africans enrolled in the War on Leaks Programme to gain skills that would help protect our country's water resources and improve local service delivery. Many graduates successfully completed their training and are ready to contribute, yet a significant number say they have not had access to practical workplace opportunities or employment related to the programme. At the same time, many communities continue to experience water leaks, ageing infrastructure and water losses. This petition calls on the Minister of Water and Sanitation, the CEO of Rand Water and Municipal Managers to engage with War on Leaks graduates, review the programme's employment outcomes and strengthen pathways to practical experience and suitable employment opportunities. We believe that trained graduates are a valuable resource that can support municipalities and water institutions in addressing water infrastructure challenges. By signing this petition, you are supporting a call for accountability, dialogue and practical solutions. Public support can encourage decision-makers to meet with graduates, consider the concerns that have been raised and explore fair, transparent opportunities for qualified participants to contribute their skills where they are needed. Together, we can advocate for stronger water services, better use of trained skills and meaningful opportunities for War on Leaks graduates. Fix the Leaks. Create the Jobs. Build the Future.

Join this campaign because the proposed MyCiTi monthly pass increase from R1 000 to R1 500 will place an unfair burden on workers, learners, parents and low-income commuters who rely on public transport every day. For many families, an extra R500 per month is not a small increase — it can mean less money for food, electricity, school needs and other basic household expenses. Public transport is not a luxury. It connects people to work, school, clinics, government services and economic opportunities. When public transport becomes unaffordable, it pushes working-class communities further away from opportunity and deepens inequality. That is why commuters and communities must stand together and say clearly: R1 500 is too much. By signing and sharing this petition, we can build public pressure on the City of Cape Town, the Mayor, the MMC for Urban Mobility and City Council to take this issue seriously. Decision-makers are more likely to act when they see that the public is organised, united and speaking with one voice. This petition is therefore a tool to force the City to consider our demands: suspend the increase, review the fare structure, engage affected communities, and introduce affordable commuter relief for workers, learners and low-income passengers. The more people sign, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

Mzimkhulu / RDP area has no school of its own, despite having thousands of residents. Because of this, learners from the area are forced to travel to schools in other parts of Ward 23 and surrounding wards to access education. This has led to serious pressure on existing schools, many of which are now overcrowded as they continue to absorb learners from Mzimkhulu / RDP. Overcrowding affects teaching quality, classroom space, and learner attention, while also increasing travel distances, costs, and safety risks for children. The Department should take immediate steps to assess the impact of learner overflow on surrounding schools and formally recognise the Mzimkhulu / RDP area as a high-need zone for new educational infrastructure.  By signing this petition, you are helping to show the Mpumalanga Department of Education that this is not an individual concern, but a clear and urgent community demand. When large numbers of residents come together, it creates public pressure that decision-makers cannot ignore and increases the chances that this issue will be prioritised. Your signature helps strengthen the call for the construction of two schools in the Mzimkhulu / RDP area: one primary school and one secondary school. Together, we can push for proper education infrastructure that serves our children closer to home.

The Department of Social Development’s primary mandate is to ensure that people in this country are socially secure [2]. They have to make sure that people have access to social service resources, such as grants and other welfare services, that will help fight inequality and poverty, and make it possible for all in South Africa to live in dignity. A minister is supposed to ensure that all these things are done.  But ever since Tolashe became Minister of Social Development, more and more people have been excluded from receiving social grants, especially the SRD grant. More ridiculous exclusionary measures have been introduced to prevent people from receiving grants. For example, people are not allowed to receive money from their families, as any money they receive into their bank accounts is considered income.  When these regulations were challenged in court [3], the court ruled that they were indeed exclusionary and unconstitutional and that they should be amended [4]. Instead of fixing them, the Department of Social Development supported the National Treasury in appealing against [5] the ruling and said that the ruling was ‘flawed’ [6].  Under Tolashe, the department is neglecting its duty. They should have corrected all these regulations in line with the court's ruling, but they chose to back the Treasury rather than protect people’s livelihoods.  Not only that, DSD had promised to submit a draft BIG policy to parliament this year, but that has been pushed to next year. They keep undermining the urgency of this policy. Tolashe is really failing at things she should be pushing. Her time in office has done nothing but cause stress for so many poor people relying on grants and social services.  The DSD should be fighting for people in this country to have access to social services, but instead, the person leading it is failing at her job and, not only that, is involved in all kinds of questionable things. Tolashe does not have the ability to serve as DSD Minister. She needs to go.  Reference 1. Half-truths, questionable claims, and evasion as Minister Tolashe appears before the parliamentary committee by Rebecca Davis for Daily Maverick, 06 May 2026. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-06-half-truths-questionable-claims-and-evasion-as-minister-tolashe-appears-before-parliamentary-committee/ 2. https://www.gov.za/about-sa/social-development 3. Conditions for R350-a-month grant to be challenged in court by Daniel Steyn for Ground Up, 27 July 2023. https://groundup.org.za/article/activists-head-to-court-over-exclusionary-r350-grant-regulations/ 4. Explosive court ruling on SRD grant by Marecia Damons for Ground Up, 24 January 2025. https://groundup.org.za/article/rules-regulating-r370-a-month-srd-grant-are-unconstitutional-court-finds/ 5. SRD grant increase is ‘simply unaffordable’ says Treasury by capeetc, 28 January 2026. https://www.capetownetc.com/news/srd-grant-increase-is-simply-unaffordable-says-treasury/ 6. Treasury and SASSA granted leave to appeal ruling on SRD grant by Marecia Damons of Ground Up, 24 March 2025. https://groundup.org.za/article/treasury-and-sassa-granted-leave-to-appeal-ruling-on-srd-grant/

When our kids go to school, we are always worried about their safety because the buses get so full that some learners don't even get a seat, so they have to stand the entire ride to school.   Our schoolchildren are made to feel uncomfortable every time they travel to school because the bus is not big enough to accommodate all of them. And because the bus has to pick up schoolchildren from different parts of the area, it often arrives at school late.  We need urgent intervention. Our children deserve to travel to school comfortably and safely. They need safer, bigger buses that arrive on time. As a community, we have to come together to fight for our children. Please sign this petition to ask the Mayor to provide safe school buses for our children. If enough of us sign, the Mayor will realise how serious we are about this issue. We elected him as Mayor so he can keep our community, especially our children safe, and these school buses are doing the opposite of that. 

According to experts, the draft bill falls short in certain areas and needs strengthening.  While the bill broadens whistleblower protection beyond the workplace to include family members and offers other forms of support, it does not provide clear steps for whistleblowers to disclose information or guarantee that they will be protected in practice [3]. This calls for strengthening the laws around protection, including clear steps for physical protection, financial assistance and compensation, and relocation assistance for high-risk cases. The bill will also provide legal support through Legal Aid South Africa [4]. To qualify for Legal Aid assistance, one must undergo a means test to determine eligibility. Whistleblowers who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Legal Aid may face financial strain if they cover legal costs out of pocket. Another issue is that Legal Aid South Africa is already facing resource constraints, meaning that if not well-resourced, whistleblowers may not receive adequate assistance. The government uses public submissions to measure experts’ and the public's opinions. A huge number of submissions highlighting the weaknesses in this bill will be sure to make them sit up and take notice. If enough of us flood the public submissions, we can make it clear that we do not just want gesture, but real, material protections for whistleblowers in our country. References: [1] Silenced – why Babita Deokaran was murdered, Tevya Turok Shapiro, Daily Mverick, 21 July 2023. [2] 10 professionals assassinated in three years, zero masterminds arrested, Reitumetse Pilane, Daily Maverick, 15 April 2026. [3] Civil society welcomes draft whistleblower Bill, but warns that serious risks remain, Claire Rankin, Luthando Vilakazi and Roshnee Narrandes, Daily Maverick, 5 May 2026.