Cape Town Women Share Their Menstrual Health Struggles

Women in Cape Town's BM Section informal settlement are using photography to break the silence around menstrual health and inspire concrete solutions.

Fifteen residents spent eight months documenting their daily realities with disposable cameras as part of the Caring for the Other Half project. They shared their powerful images at the University of the Western Cape's School of Public Health on World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The photos reveal challenges most people never consider. Neliswa Kani explained that her 25-year-old niece has no private space to change sanitary pads because their home lacks nearby toilets. They rely on a bucket, and her teenage son inevitably witnesses what should be a private moment.

Nolundi Xhobo captured another pressing issue: waste disposal. Without proper bins, residents must use shipping containers that often overflow when collection gets delayed. Dogs tear open bags containing used sanitary pads, scattering them across streets.

The women also highlighted the cost barrier. Sanitary products are expensive, and without reliable water access, maintaining hygiene during menstruation becomes extremely difficult.

The Ripple Effect

City officials are listening. Unathi Noludwe from Cape Town's informal settlements department attended the exhibition and committed to sharing the concerns with her team. A water and sanitation project is now scheduled to begin in BM Section this July.

The exhibition connects to a broader movement. The I_Menstruate Movement is pushing Parliament to recognize menstrual health as a fundamental human right through a proposed Menstrual Health Equity Bill. Founder Tracey Malawana emphasizes that period poverty encompasses far more than product access—it includes inadequate sanitation, limited healthcare, and persistent stigma.

By turning their struggles into art, these fifteen women transformed personal hardship into community advocacy. Their courage to share intimate challenges is creating pathways for thousands of women facing similar conditions across South Africa's informal settlements.

What started as a photo project became a catalyst for policy change and public awareness.