This work draws attention to the scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa, which has been described as the country’s ‘second pandemic’ due to its exceptionally high levels. Before 2020, the country’s femicide rates were five times the global average, and this was only exacerbated by the lockdown, which saw many victims trapped with their abusers. The call is for the government to commit the necessary resources to support the victims of GBV and advance women’s rights, and for communities to address the root causes of systemic violence towards women.