Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) are matters close to the heart of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and she has praised the installation of victim-friendly rooms at 28 police stations in Nongoma.
In addition to these rooms, boreholes and street lights have also been installed in the area which has become a hot spot for GBVF.
The victim-friendly rooms were installed by lsibaya Casino, while Vodacom installed the boreholes and street lights which were unveiled last week.
Ms Dube-Ncube said at least 755 survivors of GBVF accessed services in government supported GBVF shelters, with 112 964 survivors receiving psychosocial support services from the Department of Social Development and their partners.
“A total of 3 540 victims of GBV and crime accessed Khuseleka/White Door houses and shelters. District focal points and stakeholders from 11 districts were trained as master trainers,” Ms Dube-Ncube said.
The Premier said there are currently 74 functional ward-based rapid response teams integrated into war rooms. She also emphasised that one of the best ways to assist GBV survivors is through economic empowerment, highlighting that 26 401 women were reached through economic empowerment programmes this year.
“Three hundred women in business have been supported with card machines by the Office of the Premier.
“A GBVF App with a panic button is being developed by the Moses Kotane Institute, with funds from lsibaya Casino.
“We are determined to ensure that women are continuously empowered and in this regard, through the Department of Social Development, SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency) and EDTEA (Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental), we have trained over 500 women in business skills. Most of these women were survivors of GBV and to this end, they have received start-up packs to set up to run their own businesses,” the Premier said.
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier has forged strategic partnerships for the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Programmes.
The office, as the coordinating office, is leading the implementation of the Provincial GBVF Strategic Implementation Plan, which was approved by the provincial Executive Council in 2022.
“These partners include the KZN Gaming Board, lsibaya Casino, United Nations Population Fund, AIDS Foundation of South Africa, TBHIV Care, Cloud Therapist, Vodacom, lmbumba Foundation, SAB, and Spar Group. This structure is responsible for addressing high profile cases and supporting District Rapid Response Teams,” Ms Dube-Ncube said.
