However, also acknowledge progress, however little, and however slow. Use campaigning through formal or informal media, to shape public opinion, informing them of shortcomings in the law. The end of apartheid and the start of a democratic regime in South Africa gave women opportunities to influence the process of creating new legislation on violence against women. South Africa has impressive legal machinery on gender equality. The Constitution has provision for Commissions, including on gender equality.
Parliament has women s caucuses at national and provincial level.
In national government, the office of the Deputy President has a sub-office on the status of women. Gender working groups are attached to local government structures. The legal machinery is supported by a rich women s NGO movement. There is a network on no violence against women, a national shelter movement, other national women s groups and networks, and NGOs at provincial and local level working on domestic violence assistance programmes, and organisations involved in counselling. The South African Law Commission is charged with the responsibility of creating laws, and has involved women s NGOs in producing papers for consultation, and invited women with expertise to participate in sub-committees advising on the process of drafting legislation.