A school girl raises her hand not to answer a question, but to ask for permission to go home early, again. It’s not illness or laziness that keeps her away from class every month. It’s her period.

This girl has no name, and she doesn’t have an age, because this is a reality that faces 7 million girls and women in the country. 

Across South Africa, period poverty —often overlooked but rarely discussed—is silently derailing futures.

Period poverty is defined as the inability to afford and access menstrual products, as well as the necessary sanitation and hygiene facilities, alongside education and awareness to manage menstrual health effectively.

According to statistics from UN Women, approximately 7 million girls in South Africa cannot afford basic menstrual products.

Alarmingly, around 30% of schoolgirls regularly miss school due to their periods, resulting in a staggering loss of 50 days of education each year.

To put this into perspective, that equates to ten weeks of school missed, which can significantly impact their learning and future opportunities.

The Price of Being Female

In 2019, South Africa eliminated the VAT on menstrual products. While this change means that these products are no longer taxed, they still remain unaffordable for many. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers. 

The price of sanitary pads ranges from R20 to R50, while tampons are even more expensive, with prices reaching up to R70.

These costs compete directly with a family’s limited budget for essentials such as bread, electricity, and bus fare. For those living on R350 per month, affording menstrual products becomes increasingly difficult.

While reusable solutions are available, they often remain out of reach or even misunderstood in under-resourced communities.

As a result, many girls and women resort to using makeshift alternatives such as socks, newspaper, and mattress foam, which can increase the risk of infection.

Financial constraints and lack of accessibility are significant challenges, but stigma also plays a critical role in their daily struggle.

Even in schools where pads are accessible, feelings of shame and stigma persist. Menstruation continues to be a taboo subject in many households and communities, particularly in rural and conservative areas. Girls face teasing for stains, are shunned for “smelling,” and some are even told they are “ready for marriage” as a result of their natural biological processes.

For thousands living in informal settlements or experiencing displacement due to flooding, fire, or unrest, menstruation is an even greater burden. With no running water, no safe place to change, and no access to disposal bins, managing a period becomes near impossible.

The average woman menstruates for over 3,000 days in her lifetime. That’s more than 8 years. For too many in South Africa, those 8 years are filled with shame, discomfort, missed opportunity, and silence.

And while companies and governments are looking at ways to tackle the issue, the question remains: How many more girls must bleed in shame before we treat periods as a public priority, not a private inconvenience?

Call to Action:

• Donate: Support local orgs tackling period poverty

• Educate: Talk about periods. Break the stigma.

• Advocate: Push for pad distribution in all public schools and workplaces

IOL NEWS

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