Caroline Peters nominated for the National Council on gender-based violence and femicide
Caroline Peters, founder of the Callas Foundation, stands at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence as she awaits judgment in a pivotal case at the Western Cape High Court and celebrates her nomination to the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
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Activist Caroline Peters, represented by the Women’s Legal Centre (WLC), is currently awaiting judgment in a case at the Western Cape High Court.
She is challenging the criminalisation of rape survivors for naming male accusers before they plead and has been recommended for the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF).
The announcement was made by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities last Friday. Peters is one of ten candidates selected to serve on the NCGBVF.
The news comes as the Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment on whether to declare two sections of the Criminal Procedure Act unconstitutional. Caroline Peters, represented by the Women's Legal Centre (WLC), is challenging these provisions and is expected to continue her case on Wednesday.
“The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has recommended the names of ten candidates to serve on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) board,” stated the committee in a press release.
Committee chairperson Liezl van der Merwe noted that the decision follows a thorough and rigorous selection process, which aligns with the provisions of the NCGBVF Act (No. 9 of 2024).
The NCGBVF Act was signed into law on May 24, 2024, establishing a statutory body tasked with providing strategic leadership and coordination in the prevention and response to gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. The Act mandates the committee to recommend candidates from civil society and the private sector for appointment to the board.
The committee undertook a comprehensive recruitment process, which began with a public call for applications on October 5, last year. After receiving 403 applications, the committee conducted a shortlisting procedure, resulting in 18 candidates being selected for interviews held from 3 to 5 February this year.
The committee added that the curriculum vitae for each shortlisted candidate was placed on Parliament’s website for public commentary, and the committee received over 700 comments.
The interviews provided the shortlisted candidates with an opportunity to showcase their skills, experience, and demographic representation. Moreover, the interviews ensured compliance with the principles of diversity and inclusivity, as outlined in the NCGBVF Act throughout the process.
The committee recommends the following ten candidates for appointment by the President to serve as board members of the NCGBVF for a term not exceeding three years: Dr Zubeda Dangor, Siyabonga Silas/Siya Seer Hlongwa, TWM Limema, Ramalepe Lebogang Mathibe, Tirisano Moremane, Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse, Anele Ndlovu, Vuyisiwe Nxumalo, Caroline Peters, and Anele Siswana.
“The committee indicated that the recommended candidates represent diverse backgrounds, including law, finance, development planning, arts, HIV/AIDS, health, social work, psychology, and education, reflecting the demographics and geographical spread of the country,” it detailed.
The Callas Foundation, of which Peters is the founder and Director, congratulated her, stating that she has fought against gender-based violence for the last three decades. “For over 32 years, Caroline has dedicated her life to advancing justice. Her leadership is shaped not only by decades of activism but also by lived experience, which continues to ground her commitment to building systems that truly respond to the needs of survivors,” the organisation said on her behalf.