Learners march in Pretoria to demand free sanitary pads

Dikeledi, a grade 9 learner from Mamelodi in Pretoria, says she gets anxious every month when her menstrual cycle approaches. Her family, like countless others who are poor and low-income, can’t always afford to pay R14 for a basic pack of sanitary pads. This means she either has to use unhealthy substitutes like newspapers and old rags or miss days at school.

Although her school keeps a supply of pads, Dikeledi says they are expected to buy the pads which they often can’t afford. “To some of us buying sanitary pads is a luxury. This is why we want the government to make free sanitary pads available in schools,” says Dikeledi.

On 26 August, Dikeledi joined over 50 learners and activists who marched under the campaign #it’sAboutBloodyTime from the Union Buildings to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in Pretoria. They handed over a petition signed by over 30,000 people to date, demanding that the government address and recognise menstrual rights.

The demands in the petition include that there be better access to information at schools about menstrual health and access to free menstrual products. They want increased access to water, sanitation and disposal facilities to those with chronic menstrual-related conditions through the departments of health and water and sanitation. They also called for gender equality and job creation through the production of local sanitary pad initiatives, and for the government to implement policies to boost menstrual health.

About 50 learners and activists march under the campaign #it’sAboutBloodyTime from the Union Buildings on Friday to demand government prioritise menstrual health and free sanitary pads. (Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro)