The National Shelter Movement of South Africa

“A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION IS NEEDED TO STOP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE” – NATIONAL SHELTER MOVEMENT

The NSMSA seeks to focus on several issues it has been highlighting for nearly a decade. 

 We would like to see adequate resource allocation and the availability of stakeholders where needed. Shelters are an essential part of the fight against GBV as they offer places of safety to prevent further harm on victims of GBV. Government must improve on accountability because it is very low, at the moment, and it should also listen to and partner with civil society organizations on the ground to fight GBV.

The NSMSA had previously tried to engage the President on two (2) key issues. In August 2020, in an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Department of Women and the Department of Social Development the gender justice organisation called on the government to urgently address the chronic, debilitating underfunding of shelters for abused women. In its second open letter to the President, the NSMSA calls for the removal of Police Minister Bheki Cele asserting that he “has absolutely failed in his role and must immediately be replaced with someone who is more compassionate and better equipped to deal with the country’s unique and specific policing issues.” No response to either letter was received. And sadly, no South African Police Services (SAPS) officials attended the most recent GBV Shelter Indaba. Nearly seventy-thousand (70 000) have signed the NSMSA’s petition to remove the Police Minister. 

According to the NSMSA, GBV shelters are interventions that have been proven to work, time and time again. However, the organisation says that the lack of funding and inadequate response from SAPS, is often the main obstacle to protecting women in South Africa from domestic and/or intimate partner violence. GBV shelters in the Eastern Cape were particularly hard hit by under-funding issues. This was the catalyst for the first letter to the President. 

Pictured below: Delene Roberts attending a GBV Shelter Indaba for the NSMSA.

Gary Koekemoer, Chairperson of BET Sheekom in the Eastern Cape says, “To be honest, my expectations for the GBV Summit are very low because all the government does is talk with very little action. We struggle with funding even though our reports and documentations are submitted on time. There is absolutely no accountability, acceleration, or amplification whatsoever. Government must allocate adequate funding to shelters because shelters offer places of safety and play a role in creating awareness and fight against GBV.”

Shelters offer a safe haven for abused women and children. Although it is not publicly acknowledged, shelters do the groundwork in the healing process of survivors. The President and government should ensure that shelters receive adequate funding and support staff because shelter staff play an important and active role in the fight against GBV and should therefore be treated with the same regard as government social development employees.”

A report composed by Lisa Vetten representing the Care Work Campaign and Margaret Grobbelaar from the National Coalition of Social Services revealed that, in some provinces and most notably in the Eastern Cape, the issue of late payments by the DSD persists and affects a range of sectors, including services to older persons, disabilities and child protection. The NPO Financing Report, published in July 2020, lists a total of 138 organizations, 103 of which are based in the Eastern Cape, whose funding tranches were delayed.

Pictured below: Fisani Mahlangu attending a GBV Shelter Indaba for the NSMSA.

The NSMSA’s National Shelter Helpline helps victims and survivors access all GBV-related services. Call toll-free from a landline or Telkom mobile on 0800 001 005 or dial 112 from a Vodacom or Cell C phone or send a WhatsApp or PleaseCallMe to 082 057 8600.

You can also find us on social media. https://www.facebook.com/NationalShelterMovementSA

The 25th of November marked the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, a United Nations campaign that takes place annually from 25 November to 10 December. It focuses on raising awareness of the devastating impact that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on women and children, and the social fabric of our society. 

Given the scourge of Gender-Based violence in the country, which is declared a national address, the government is implementing the Emergency Response Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which was announced by President Cyril in September 2019.

The theme for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for 2022 is: “Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment to build Women’s Resilience against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide: Connect, Collaborate, Contract!”