Joburg launches free sanitary towel programme for girls aged 10–19

By Lebone Rodah Mosima 

The City of Johannesburg has launched a free sanitary towel distribution programme for young girls aged between 10 and 19 across all municipal clinics, aimed at restoring dignity and improving health and education outcomes.

The programme was launched on Wednesday at the Bophelong Clinic in Doornkop, in Soweto.

Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development Ennie Makhafola described the initiative as “historic”, saying Johannesburg is the first municipality in South Africa to roll out a citywide sanitary towel distribution programme through public health facilities.

Makhafola called on other municipalities and spheres of government to follow suit in addressing period poverty.

“For the longest time, the dignity of a young black child has been neglected, and as the government of today, we are not going to be writing in those books where there’s no change,” Makhafola said.

She said the free sanitary towel programme gives effect to a council