DEPARTMENT TEAMS UP WITH COGTA TO BOOST SAFETY IN GBV SHELTERS

By Madali Chibambu

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development, in partnership with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is enhancing fire safety measures in two gender-based violence (GBV) shelters in the province.
• For the 2024/25 financial year, shelters in Bronkhorstspruit and Springs will receive vital safety upgrades, including smoke alarm detectors, solar lights, and basic first aid training for staff and GBV survivors.
• The initiative aims to create safer, more compliant environments for GBV survivors, equipping both staff and residents with essential skills to manage emergencies effectively.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is intensifying its efforts to improve safety in gender-based violence (GBV) shelters. Through the Social Crime Prevention and Victim Empowerment Programmes, the two departments have committed to providing essential fire safety support to two GBV shelters in the province.

For the 2024/25 financial year, shelters in Bronkhorstspruit and Springs have been identified to receive critical fire safety compliance upgrades. These upgrades will include the installation of smoke alarm detectors, the distribution of solar lights, and the provision of basic first aid training. The selection of these shelters aligns with the priorities of the TISH programme, which focuses on improving safety standards in vulnerable communities.

Pearl Moabelo, Director of Victim Empowerment Programmes (VEP) at the Gauteng Department of Social Development, expressed her gratitude to CoGTA for their partnership. “We are pleased with their commitment to providing training to our staff members and GBV survivors in basic first aid,” said Moabelo.

Rudo Mahusa, a Social Work Manager at one of the shelters, expressed her enthusiasm for the support. “As a GBV shelter committed to compliance, we are thrilled to be one of the shelters chosen to receive smoke alarm detectors as part of the safety measures. We have already appointed twenty-three staff members who will receive training in basic first aid and firefighting. Some of the smoke alarm detectors have already been installed, which will help keep our buildings safe,” Mahusa stated.

Mahusa also highlighted the importance of including GBV survivors in the training. “What makes me happy is when they allow our GBV survivors to be part of the group that will be receiving training in some programmes that will assist them when they exit the shelter,” she added.

This initiative is a significant step towards creating safer environments for GBV survivors and empowering them with skills that will aid their reintegration into society. By focusing on both physical safety measures and skills training, the partnership between the Gauteng Department of Social Development and CoGTA demonstrates a holistic approach to supporting vulnerable individuals.