It has been reported that up to 7 million South African girls do not have access to or cannot afford to buy sanitary products. These numbers are shocking! I find it appalling that this is where we are as a country. Many leaders have spoken about the importance of educating, protecting, and setting our youth up for success. What kind of future are we building towards if 7 million South African school girls are missing out on their education every month because they are on their period? Many have stood up to fight this war; we have seen so many pad and tampon drives but clearly it is not enough. Period poverty is a critical issue in South Africa that needs to be addressed by the Government because it has severe effects on teenagers academically, economically, and socially. Our government needs to pull up its socks and work with us to help more young girls by fighting the period poverty crises.

Terminating Pink Tax where women had to pay 15% of tax for feminine hygiene products was a start. I believe the government can do so much more. Yes, they have provided free pads for some, however the quality and quantity of these free pads should be investigated. Bearing in mind that the female body is complicated and unique, we cannot assume that every girl experiences a period the same as the other. Some girls have heavier flows than others and some girls have more sensitive skin than others. I was unimpressed with the protection that these pads provide. I had to be more cautious while using them. I also found that I had to change them more often than usual because of their quality. School girls are given max two packs of pads which aren’t the best quality, and run out very quickly, leaving them unprotected mid-period.

The government needs to do better. We pay taxes to the government to help build our country. The government needs to work harder and prioritise providing these young girls with sufficient and adequate free menstrual products over spending R22 million on a flag.