, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
A DOTMABE-DRIVEN GBVF AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR
WOMEN IN ORLANDO EAST, SOWETO
INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remains one of South Africa's most pressing human
rights crises, with the country experiencing rates of violence against women that rank among the
highest globally (United Nations, 2025). This portfolio assessment develops a comprehensive GBVF
awareness and educational campaign targeted at women aged 25 to 40 in Orlando East, Soweto,
using the DOTMABE formula as the strategic planning framework. The DOTMABE formula
provides a structured approach to campaign development by guiding practitioners through the
sequential steps of defining the problem, establishing objectives, identifying target groups,
developing messages, planning activities, allocating budgets, and conducting review and evaluation
(University of South Africa, 2026). The campaign will be implemented over a two-week period,
coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25
November, and will utilise both traditional and digital media platforms to maximise reach and
engagement. With a budget allocation of R3 million, the campaign aims to educate the target
audience about the national GBVF crisis while equipping them with practical strategies to combat
violence in their communities. This assessment will demonstrate the practical application of each
DOTMABE component, culminating in a comprehensive evaluation framework to measure
campaign effectiveness and impact.
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
South Africa's GBVF crisis represents a national emergency that demands urgent and coordinated
intervention. According to the United Nations (2025), almost one in three women globally have been
subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, and South Africa's rate of
femicide is five times higher than the global average. Recent statistics from the South African
Human Rights Commission (2026) reveal that 569 women were killed and 1,052 survived attempted
murder between April and June 2026 alone, while 8,814 rape cases were reported during the first
quarter of 2026. These figures, while alarming, likely underrepresent the true extent of the crisis due
to chronic underreporting driven by stigma, fear, and mistrust in the criminal justice system.
The problem is particularly acute in Soweto, where high population density, informal settlements,
and socio-economic challenges create conditions that exacerbate vulnerability to violence. Gender
Links (2026a) documents how resistance from community structures, including traditional leaders,
initially hindered efforts to address GBVF in Soweto, with women often requiring permission from
husbands to seek help and activists being labelled as "witches" teaching women to rebel. This
resistance demonstrates the deep-rooted patriarchal norms that normalise violence and silence
survivors in communities like Orlando East.
Despite the existence of comprehensive legislative frameworks, including the National Strategic Plan
on GBVF (2020-2030) and the recent declaration of GBVF as a national disaster, implementation
gaps persist. The Commission for Gender Equality (2025) notes that delays in establishing the
National Council on GBVF significantly hindered efforts to enhance accountability, and overall
progress has been slow, with advancements mainly in "soft indicators" rather than substantial
outcomes. Inadequate planning, insufficient resource allocation, and lack of effective coordination
among key implementing entities continue to hamper the national response (Commission for Gender
Equality, 2025). This context underscores the need for community-level campaigns that bridge the
gap between national policy and local realities, empowering women in areas like Orlando East with
knowledge and practical strategies to protect themselves and access support services.
A DOTMABE-DRIVEN GBVF AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR
WOMEN IN ORLANDO EAST, SOWETO
INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remains one of South Africa's most pressing human
rights crises, with the country experiencing rates of violence against women that rank among the
highest globally (United Nations, 2025). This portfolio assessment develops a comprehensive GBVF
awareness and educational campaign targeted at women aged 25 to 40 in Orlando East, Soweto,
using the DOTMABE formula as the strategic planning framework. The DOTMABE formula
provides a structured approach to campaign development by guiding practitioners through the
sequential steps of defining the problem, establishing objectives, identifying target groups,
developing messages, planning activities, allocating budgets, and conducting review and evaluation
(University of South Africa, 2026). The campaign will be implemented over a two-week period,
coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25
November, and will utilise both traditional and digital media platforms to maximise reach and
engagement. With a budget allocation of R3 million, the campaign aims to educate the target
audience about the national GBVF crisis while equipping them with practical strategies to combat
violence in their communities. This assessment will demonstrate the practical application of each
DOTMABE component, culminating in a comprehensive evaluation framework to measure
campaign effectiveness and impact.
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
South Africa's GBVF crisis represents a national emergency that demands urgent and coordinated
intervention. According to the United Nations (2025), almost one in three women globally have been
subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, and South Africa's rate of
femicide is five times higher than the global average. Recent statistics from the South African
Human Rights Commission (2026) reveal that 569 women were killed and 1,052 survived attempted
murder between April and June 2026 alone, while 8,814 rape cases were reported during the first
quarter of 2026. These figures, while alarming, likely underrepresent the true extent of the crisis due
to chronic underreporting driven by stigma, fear, and mistrust in the criminal justice system.
The problem is particularly acute in Soweto, where high population density, informal settlements,
and socio-economic challenges create conditions that exacerbate vulnerability to violence. Gender
Links (2026a) documents how resistance from community structures, including traditional leaders,
initially hindered efforts to address GBVF in Soweto, with women often requiring permission from
husbands to seek help and activists being labelled as "witches" teaching women to rebel. This
resistance demonstrates the deep-rooted patriarchal norms that normalise violence and silence
survivors in communities like Orlando East.
Despite the existence of comprehensive legislative frameworks, including the National Strategic Plan
on GBVF (2020-2030) and the recent declaration of GBVF as a national disaster, implementation
gaps persist. The Commission for Gender Equality (2025) notes that delays in establishing the
National Council on GBVF significantly hindered efforts to enhance accountability, and overall
progress has been slow, with advancements mainly in "soft indicators" rather than substantial
outcomes. Inadequate planning, insufficient resource allocation, and lack of effective coordination
among key implementing entities continue to hamper the national response (Commission for Gender
Equality, 2025). This context underscores the need for community-level campaigns that bridge the
gap between national policy and local realities, empowering women in areas like Orlando East with
knowledge and practical strategies to protect themselves and access support services.
