Our Impact
Oxfam South Africa (OZA) is a social justice organisation working at the intersection of poverty and inequality.
Our Work
Our work is grounded in feminist principles and practice and the gender inequality that Covid once again highlighted has encouraged us to focus even more on these principles as we seek a just society.
MOBILISING
Being part of the movement organising against Gender Based Violence
CREATING
platforms for feminist
organising like the
Shayisfuba Campaign
BUILDING
livelihoods through
transforming inequitable
value chains
CAPACITATING
communities on the right to Free, Prior and Informed
Consent (FPIC)
CONTRIBUTING
to a strong coalition
against inequality
INFLUENCING
State influencing
through partnership
SUPPORTING
the struggles of
precarious workers
SOUTH-SOUTH
people to people
Co-operation
What we do
Our programmes work together to highlight the ways in which poverty and inequality impact work and livelihoods, accountable governance, and natural resource justice.
CLIMATE JUSTICE – A JUST TRANSITION
We are piloting various initiatives that highlight the need to reduce inequality and injustice in the impact of climate change.
As South Africa remains one of the world’s biggest coal producers, one of our main concerns is how a just transition from coal to clean energy can take place as recently highlighted as an important issue at COP26.
REJECT OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION – SAVE OUR OCEANS
Beyond engaging with policy and policy makers, our climate justice work is also focused on movement building in climate change affected communities. We have been at the forefront of this work first in the extractives space but have now expanded the work beyond extractives.
COP 26
Our focus on climate justice led to our participation at the Climate Change Conference (COP 26), where Salima Hamada from our Saving Lives Building Resilience programme represented us. She highlighted the work we do, including the East Africa Climate Change project, on which OZA is a partner.
Watch Oxfam’s SBLR Programme Manager detail our Disaster Management Guidelines work
Waste Recycling
Oxfam South Africa has been in partnership with the City of Johannesburg and the City of Ekurhuleni on the Waste Recycling project since 2009. Through our interventions the recyclers now have city sponsored land with structures built for sorting, we also fundraised for plastic and other recyclable processing equipment which makes the work more sustainable.
WOMXN, JUSTICE & POWER
Violence in South Africa is a daily reality, and this year our 16 days of activism campaign focused on unpacking violence in South Africa and its impact on our lives.
Our Women’s Rights and Gender Justice Programme Manager Kwezilomso Mbandazayo hosted a number of feminist activists and held various conversations looking at different aspects of violence and South Africa during 16 days of activism. Click here to join us on this emotive journey into the thinking of Feminist activists in South Africa.
Poverty as Violence
We supported our partner Women on Farms with their call for Feminist reparations, a farm worker women’s demand for dignity. The campaign highlighted poverty as violence. It was built on the fact that for far too long farm women have endured many injustices – their land was stolen, they became slave labour and others ruled over them and this campaign called for them to reclaim what was forcibly taken from them and own it.
The Hunger Virus
It became clear at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that South Africans are increasingly going hungry. Oxfam International released a global briefing document that showed that by the end of the year 12,000 people per day could die from hunger linked to COVID-19, a number potentially more than the people expected to die from COVID-19.
Food Security and Women
Working with partners, we harnessed the power of women by supporting food security and livelihoods in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, Ntabankulu and the poorest urban areas of Cape Town, Vrygrond. We donated containers which were used as kitchens for cooking for the community in two soup kitchens. These efforts helped vulnerable partner communities to mitigate the extreme crisis caused by the protracted Covid-19 pandemic.
Accountable Governance
Our call for a feminist government in South Africa and the region has been consistent. This is a government that would build inclusive, sustainable development with the full participation of the community. This is a government that responds to all while protecting the most vulnerable in emergencies. We have also collaborated with partners towards building a People’s Feminist Economy. This is an economy and society that recognises and values the right to dignified work and livelihoods for all.
Transparency and Accountability Series
These discussion papers argue that much more can be done to improve transparency and accountability within the New Development Bank (NDB). Read the reports for the recommendations made for finding a way forward for a potential Independent Accountability Mechanism (IAM) at the NDB.
Movement Building
We support movement building across South Africa by working with and supporting initiatives like the Makhanda Development Initiative, which has a vision of Makana developing into an economically viable, diverse, socially stable community so that all residents can benefit from its development and all stakeholders at the launch committed to realising this vision.
HOLDING IFI’s ACCOUNTABLE
As South Africa received more and more funds from International Financial Institutions to support Covid 19 relief efforts, our Global Impact programme focused on the role of IFIs in development. This led to the revival of the SA/Africa CSO NDB Working Group, co-chaired by Oxfam South Africa and African Monitor. This working group seeks to engage the NDB and its Africa Regional Center (ARC) on its role in SA and the region, in coordination with BRICS civil society.
ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE ON GBV
We support two feminist movements, the Call to Action collective and Shayisfuba. These collectives have been instrumental in the fight against GBV and ensuring government is held accountable for its actions and plans. As part of the collective we helped to raise awareness on GBV and the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for GBV through education, research, advocacy and information provided on our and the other partners social media platforms.
Oxfam South Africa News
Oxfam South Africa and W20 South Africa to Co-Host High-Level Dinner on Debt and Gender Justice Ahead of G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Attention: Editors Date: 8 October 2025 As part of the official programme of the Women 20 (W20) Summit, Oxfam South Africa, in partnership with W20 South Africa, will host an evening dialogue and dinner titled “Solving Debt…Read more
Media Reaction: Oxfam South Africa Welcomes President Ramaphosa’s Call for Debt Reform and Equity at UNGA 80.
Attention: Editors Date: 23 September 2025 Oxfam South Africa Welcomes President Ramaphosa’s Call for Debt Reform and Equity at UNGA 80: A Moment to #TaxTheSuperRich and Advance Justice for All. Oxfam South Africa (OZA) welcomes President…Read more
Statement: Oxfam South Africa Addresses Recent Claims on Governance Leadership.
Date: 05 August 2025 Statement from Oxfam South Africa confirming Governance Leadership Oxfam South Africa is aware of recent public comments made by Dr. Simamkele Dlakavu, in which she refers to herself as the new head…Read more
Press Release: Oxfam South Africa Calls for Global Action to “Tax the Super Rich” at Y20 Summit 2025
Attention: Editors Date: 18 August 2025 Oxfam South Africa Calls for Global Action to “Tax the Super Rich” at Y20 Summit 2025 Johannesburg, South Africa — Oxfam South Africa (OZA) will convene a high-level side event…Read more
OZA Participates at the first P20 Women’s Parliament of the Seventh Parliamentary Dispensation in South Africa's Parliament
On 13–14 August 2025, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa convened the first P20 Women’s Parliament of the Seventh Parliamentary Dispensation, a…Read more
Press Release: Oxfam South Africa, City Hope Disaster Relief, and ActionAid SA Intensify Support for Survivors of Mthatha Floods — But More Help Is Urgently Needed
Attention: Editors Date: 8 August 2025 Oxfam South Africa, City Hope Disaster Relief, and ActionAid SA Intensify Support for Survivors of Mthatha Floods — But More Help Is Urgently Needed Nearly two months after devastating floods swept through communities in…Read more
Press Release: Oxfam South Africa calls for gender justice and inclusive policies in the clean energy transition.
Attention: Editors Date: 5 August 2025 Oxfam South Africa calls for gender justice and inclusive policies in the clean energy transition. As South Africa leads the G20 for the first time, Oxfam South…Read more
Press Release: Oxfam South Africa in Partnership with University of Johannesburg to host T20 Side Event.
Attention: Editors Date: 30 July 2025 African Women Lead Conversations on Mining and Agriculture at G20 Think Tank Event As South Africa hosts the G20 Summit this year, Oxfam South Africa will convene leaders, policymakers, community…Read more
From Seville to Johannesburg and onto Belem: Why South Africa Must Lead on Equitable Access to Quality Finance Now
By Nkateko Chauke and Amir Bagherioromi The world has just closed the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville. Leaders left with what they now call the Seville Commitment; a plan that promises to fund…Read more
REACTION: Oxfam South Africa Welcomes Launch of Global Coalition to Tax the Super-Rich
Attention: Editors Seville, Spain — 2 July 2025 Oxfam South Africa (OZA) welcomes the launch of the Global Coalition to Tax the Super-Rich by South Africa, Brazil, and Spain at the Fourth United Nations Conference on…Read more
Honouring the Invisible Backbone: A Decolonial Feminist Reflection on International Domestic Workers Day
Attention: Editors Date: 30 June 2025 On June 16, while South Africa commemorated the young revolutionaries of 1976 who rose up for freedom and justice, we also honoured another group of quiet revolutionaries—domestic workers. Their resistance…Read more
Oxfam South Africa Media Reaction to Climate Crisis in the Eastern Cape - 11 June 2025
Attention: Editors Date: 11 June 2025 Early Warning Systems Are Not Enough. Government Must Act Now to Protect Rural Communities. This week, South Africa has experienced severe and abnormal weather patterns threatening lives and livelihoods. Heavy…Read more
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