Women demand increased funding for gender issues during Budget 2026 speech

A diverse group of women rally outside Parliament, wielding pots and pans as symbols of their urgent demands for increased funding for social support systems during the Budget 2026 speech by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana. A diverse group of women converged outside Parliament while Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana delivered his 2026 Budget speech, wielding pots and pans as symbols of their urgent demands. As they marched to Parliament, they sang and chanted: “Budget for the women,” holding pots and pans as their musical instruments.

Organised under the guidance of the Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement, the demonstration aimed to shine a spotlight on critical needs, including much-needed funding for social support systems directly affecting women’s lives. The group included various organisations such as :Sisterhood Teens Movement, Sisterhood Movement, Gugulethu Backyarders, Community Women in Action Alcardo Foundation, Lerato Family Foundation,Women from Doringbaai to Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies and others. Wendy Pekeur,Founder and Coordinator,Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movementsaid the movement is highlighting a range of proposals intended to address gender-based violence, poverty, and economic disenfranchisement faced by women in various communities.

Pekeur said they are calling on financial provisions to pay volunteers at the South African Police Service’s Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). “We would like to see an increase in funding to shelters for abused women and children,” said Pekeur, as she listed the proposals. “We would like the Minister to set aside funding to appoint assistants like the programme at schools to assist at SASSA Points to give quality service to the people andto set aside funding for Advice offices to assist with Unemployment Insurance and Compensation for Occupational Diseases Applications, as people have to wait hours in long lines and often get turned away.” We would like the Minister to set aside funding to appoint assistants like the programme at schools to assist at SASSA Points to give quality service to the people and