Understanding the proposed Menstrual Health and Rights Bill of South Africa

This blog post was authored by Duduetsang Mmeti, Associate Communications Director at Ibis Reproductive Health

On April 1, 2026, a coalition of South African activists, researchers and civil society organisations — including Team Free Sanitary Pads NPC, Women’s Health Ekklesia, Qrate, National Youth Coalition, Sexual Reproductive Justice Coalition, Fem Connect, Pads R Us, WH by FK, and allied organisations and activists — presented the Menstrual Health and Rights Bill to the South African Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.

This proposed bill marks a significant step toward advancing menstrual equity in South Africa. The Bill adopts a holistic, rights-based approach that seeks to recognise menstrual health as a constitutional right and the equitable provision of menstrual health products as an enforceable obligation for the state. It prioritises universal access to free menstrual products across public institutions, alongside the provision of safe and clean sanitation facilities in line with national norms and standards, understanding that these interventions are critical for addressing inequalities in menstrual health access in South Africa.

Beyond service provision, the Bill places emphasis on shifting social norms and strengthening institutional support. It calls for the integration of menstrual health topics into existing Comprehensive Sexuality Education school curricula and teacher training, as well as sustained public awareness campaigns to address period stigma and discrimination. In the workplace, the Bill introduces progressive measures that provide reasonable accommodations for paid menstrual leave, signalling a move toward more inclusive and responsive labour practices in South Africa.

Importantly, the Bill recognises menstrual health as a socio-economic and governance issue. Firstly, it proposes targeted support for local menstrual product manufacturers, with a priority to women-owned enterprises. It also pushes to establish coordinated regulatory bodies and advisory structures such as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to ensure product safety, accountability and oversight. This means greater transparency on product ingredient disclosure, and independent and unbiased product safety testing. At the corporate governance level, the bill proposes structured tax incentives for corporations that have vested interests in providing products and menstrual health education.

Credit: Menstrual Health Rights Coalition

For organisations working at the intersection of sexual and reproductive health research and policy advocacy, this Bill represents a timely opportunity to advance evidence-informed policymaking and to strengthen multisectoral collaboration toward menstrual justice and the elimination of period poverty.

To read more about the Parliamentary processes relating to the Menstrual Health and Rights Bill, read the following resources:

• Menstrual Health Rights Coalition Press Statement
• Parliament of South Africa Menstrual Hygiene Colloquium
• Watch the full recording of the South African Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education (National Assembly), [Colloquium on provision of free menstrual hygiene products for girls and women.]

For interested parties seeking to learn more about the proposed bill, please note that a copy of the bill is available on request.

To learn more about how a proposed Bill becomes an Act of Parliament in South Africa, click here.