Ending GBVF requires societal effort
The battle to eradicate Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is one that government can lead but not fight alone, says Gauteng Premier, David Makhura.
To break the scourge of gender-based violence, law enforcement, psychosocial, economic, and educational interventions are needed in partnership with civil society, faith-based, and non-governmental organisations.
"Gender-Based Violence is about patriarchy. It is about the exertion of power by men over women. We want a South Africa where there is gender equality. We seek a non-sexist South Africa where men and women can live together in peace and contribute uniquely to communities," said Makhura.
He was speaking at the start of the two-day GBVF Summit held at Birchwood Hotel in the East Rand on Monday, 29 August 2022.
The summit forms part of the province's Women's Month programmes held under the theme "Women's Socio-Economic Rights, Empowerment and Resilience."
Over 600 delegates from different sectors of society, including non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, law enforcement agencies, and the taxi industry used the day to reflect on the work undertaken since the launch of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF and the programmes implemented as per the pillars of the NSP.
The plan provides a cohesive framework that will guide the national response to the GBVF crisis.
It further outlines a comprehensive strategic response to GBVF with a specific focus on violence against all women – across age, physical location, disability, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identity and national identity – as well as violence against children, and how these serve to reinforce each other.
The summit provided an opportunity for wider collaborative engagement between stakeholders on strengthening the overall response to GBVF and prevention in Gauteng.
Makhura said while there has been improvement in the latest statistics around sexual assaults and gender-based violence in the country, there is still much work to be done in addressing the scourge.
From April to June 2022, 855 women and 243 children were killed in South Africa-
a decrease of 6.2% counts- reported in the same period last year.
In Gauteng, Makhura attributed the decline to the work of GBV Brigades, Ikhaya-le-Themba and Green Door facilities.
The Gauteng government has deployed GBV Brigades in all wards and 30 dedicated GBVF social workers were appointed.
To expand the footprint, the Department of Community Safety has also roped an additional 610 safety volunteers to participate as GBV brigades.
The brigades play a critical role in enhancing community awareness of the Green Doors, Ikhaya-le-Themba, and the victim's empowerment centres (VECs) at police stations. Thus far, the brigades have visited over 170 000 households in the province.
Green Door facilities are safe sites that are situated within five kilometres of the local police station. They offer victims of abuse services such as emotional containment, trauma debriefing and referral to the nearest police station to open a case. Over 1100 victims have received support at these shelters.
The premier said the provincial government is linking places of safety with economic development programmes, including training, in order to empower the victims.
"We are linking shelters with economic development programmes so that they can be independent and earn their own income, run their own enterprises," he said adding that this was done in partnership with the private sector.
Gauteng is the only province that has a War Room on GBVF which is tasked with enhancing strategic institutional and resourcing coordination as well as providing survivor-focused services.
Chief Director of Governance, Transformation, Justice and Security in the Department of Women, Children, and Persons with Disabilities, Esther Maluleke, outlined how resources still needed to be allocated to initiatives and programmes to deal with the crisis, because at present most of what was being done on the ground was more reactive rather than proactive.
"We need to make sure we look at the impact of different targets as far as GBV is concerned. For the implementation of the strategy, we will be looking at progress, challenges, and opportunities that exist and come up with recommendations in terms of what we need to do differently; how can we accelerate and amplify the strategy, and how can we strengthen accountability."
GBV survivor and the Managing Director of Faith-Based Child Protection Movement, Vanessa Chetty said programmes to rehabilitate perpetrators should also be implemented.
"If someone had reached out to the young boy, if they had a place to run to I would
not be standing here as the victim of rape," said Chetty who was raped by a close family friend at the age of six.
The activist said she tried to commit suicide thrice and resorted to self-harm before she found the courage to speak with a counsellor.
While the DNA processing backlog remains a challenge in the fight against GBVF, Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said resources are being channelled to ensure police can respond to cases.
"The backlog is a well-known factor, but there is a programme in place to make sure that they correct what is happening in that space."
