President Cyril Ramaphosa said that gender-based violence was a national emergency.
In his New Year's message, he said that addressing this scourge would require a "firm, co-ordinated response" in which all South Africans have a role to play."
He also said that 2018 had marked a new beginning in the country's shared effort to build a better South Africa and a year of renewal.
"We have embarked on a massive investment drive to place our economy on a new path of inclusive growth. We are encouraged by the many investors, both South African as well as international, who have shown a keen interest in investing in our economy," he said.
Ramaphosa said that as the New Year begins millions of South African workers will benefit from the introduction of the country's first national minimum wage.
"This is the result of many decades of tireless struggle and is a powerful demonstration of the shared resolve of all social partners to tackle poverty and inequality".
He also encouraged South Africans to register for the country's 6th democratic general elections scheduled for 2019.
"We urge all our people, particularly the youth to register to vote and to exercise their responsibility as patriotic citizens of our great nation," President Ramaphosa said.
