Ministers Patricia De Lille and Lindiwe Zulu join hands to provide shelter for survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Koffiefontein, Free State Province

In March 2020, Cabinet approved the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF 2020–2030) and the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to ensure a cohesive strategic framework to guide the national response to the GBVF crisis. The NSP is anchored on six key pillars that seek to guide specific actions by sectors of the South African society.

The implementation approach of the NSP on GBVF is anchored on six key pillars that seek to guide specific actions and harness the roles, responsibilities, resources, and commitment of all stakeholders across all spheres of government, civil society, faith-based communities and the private sector, amongst others.

The Department of Social Development is responsible for Pillar 4: response, care, support and healing. This involves the establishment of shelters, which play a vital role in the GBVF national response through the provision comprehensive package of care and support services, including psychosocial support services to survivors of gender-based violence in the healing, empowerment and recovery process. Shelters make a difference between life and death situations for women trapped in violent and abusive relationships.

As part of enhancing the national response against GBVF and the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign currently underway, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Patricia De Lille will hand over a renovated public facility that has been repurposed as a shelter to the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu in Koffiefontein, Free State Province.

The handover of the shelter is informed by the President’s Five-Point Plan on GBV and the pledge by Minister De Lille to identify and repurpose public facilities to provide shelter for survivors throughout the country.

Currently, the Department of Social Development is responsible for 349 shelters across the country, which include the White Door and Khuseleka One-Stop Centres. In line with the Distrct Development Model, the target is to have at least one shelter in each of the 52 districts of the country. In this regard, the Department has allocated an amount of R178 million for the provision of support services in the current financial year.

The full programme will include the unveiling of anti-GBVF billboard at the local Bloemspruit Police Station. To date, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has installed 30 anti-GBVF billboards at police stations in seven provinces in areas identified as GBV hot spot areas across the country.

Source: Government of South Africa