The Department of Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe believes a more coordinated and survivor centred approach to the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the country, will ensure justice and protection for women and children.
Tolashe participated at a roundtable discussion at the Atteridgeville Community Hall, west of Pretoria, and highlighted the implementation and progress made in the National Strategic Plan as well as evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided to GBVF victims.
The Minister also bemoaned inconsistencies in the justice system.
“Gender-based violence and femicide remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations affecting women and children in South Africa.
Hence today we must deal with all existing legislation and national strategies, including the National Strategic Plan on GBVF as victims continue to experience delays in accessing justice, poor service integration and lack of trauma-informed support,” said Tolashe.
Amongst other key calls made at the discussion was the improvement of state shelters, as they play a crucial role in offering women and children safe accommodation and support as they attempt to escape their abusers.
It emerged that most of shelters especially in Gauteng were defunded and left in undesirable conditions.
Speaking at the same roundtable, Dr Zubeda Dangor, Head of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, painted a dire picture of the state of shelters in the country.
“Women’s shelters play an essential role in the fight against GBV, offering women and children safe accommodation, support, and training as they attempt to leave their abusers.
Currently in Gauteng, only 10 out of 23 shelters are funded. Now, the government is closing some of the shelters or not supporting them, while starting new ones.
Yes, it is good to open new ones since they are needed, however, the ones that are functioning need support as well,” said Dr Dangor, who represent more than 100 affiliated shelters.
She called on government to urgently address the chronic underfunding of shelter services, warning that shelter helplines now have no place to refer victims to, placing them at risk of returning to dangerous environments.
The roundtable reaffirmed the urgent need for collaboration between government, civil society, and communities, to safeguard the rights and lives of South Africa’s women and children.
