ENSURING HEALING AND SUPPORT: DSD’S ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST GBV

By Precious Mupenzi

• The Department of Social Development is intensifying its efforts to make sure survivors of gender-based violence have access to dedicated shelters wherever they are needed across the country.
• The department is addressing gaps in shelter availability, particularly in districts still lacking facilities for gender-based violence survivors.
• The department is also conducting monitoring visits to ensure existing facilities are prepared for the Victim Support Services Bill, which will be enacted into law in the next financial year.

The Department of Social Development continues to intensify efforts to strengthen support services for survivors of gender-based violence, ensuring that shelter facilities align with national policy frameworks and upcoming legislation.

As the department responsible for implementing Pillar Four of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide – to do with response, care, support, and healing, the Department of Social Development is committed to expanding access to shelters and improving service delivery.

A key focus of the department’s ongoing work is addressing gaps in shelter availability, particularly in districts that still lack dedicated facilities for gender-based violence survivors.

Currently, five districts across KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, and Northern Cape do not have gender-based violence shelters.

President Cyril Ramaphosa committed in 2020 to ensuring that every district in the country has a shelter, and the Department of Social Development has since partnered with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to fulfil this mandate.

Monitoring gender-based violence facilities

In addition to addressing shelter gaps, the department is also conducting monitoring visits to ensure that existing facilities are prepared for the Victim Support Services Bill, which will be enacted into law in the next financial year.

This legislation will require shelter facilities to be accredited, and comply with and enforce the shelters’ minimum norms and standards as part of service implementation.

“The issue of districts without gender-based violence shelters, as well as our ongoing monitoring visits, is critical to ensuring that we are prepared for the enactment of the Victim Support Services Bill,” said Chrizelda Coetzee-Groenewald, Social Work Policy Manager within the Directorate: Victim Empowerment and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence.

“This legislation will require all shelters to meet accreditation standards, ensuring that survivors receive high-quality, comprehensive support,” she said.

“While some districts may not yet have dedicated gender-based violence shelters, victims in these areas are not left without assistance. They are accommodated at the nearest available shelters, ensuring they receive the necessary care and protection.”

The Department of Social Development is set to conclude its comprehensive monitoring visits for this financial year in the North West province between 5 to 7 March, starting in Vryburg.

This final leg follows assessments of 15 shelters across KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.

Conducted in collaboration with provincial and district authorities, these visits evaluate the implementation of the Intersectoral Shelter and Psychosocial Support Services Policies, developed between 2019 and 2021.

Building capacity

Since their approval, the department has provided capacity-building sessions to ensure effective implementation, with ongoing monitoring identifying gaps and areas for improvement.

“There are currently 144 gender-based violence centres providing essential support for victims of violence and domestic abuse in all provinces,” said Coetzee-Groenewald.

“Recognising the need to close service gaps in areas without dedicated gender-based violence shelters, we have also set up 266 White Doors – safe spaces offering immediate protection and support.

“Additionally, four Khuseleka One Stop Centres have been established in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Limpopo, and North West to provide integrated services, including psychosocial support, legal assistance, and healthcare, ensuring survivors receive holistic care under one roof.”

The monitoring visits target 15 identified hotspot districts – areas with high prevalence rates of gender-based violence – where urgent and effective interventions are necessary.

Each province selects three shelters for evaluation, using a standardised monitoring tool. The assessments involve shelter management, provincial and district victim empowerment coordinators, and monitoring and evaluation teams, with findings guiding improvements in service delivery.

“The journey to eradicating gender-based violence requires continuous effort, collaboration, and accountability. These monitoring visits help us refine our interventions and strengthen the support structures for survivors,” Coetzee-Groenewald concluded.

Looking ahead, the Department of Social Development will continue monitoring shelter facilities in the Free State, Limpopo, and Northern Cape in the next financial year to ensure sustained implementation of policies and readiness for the Victim Support Services Bill.

By expanding access to shelters, strengthening compliance measures, and enhancing service delivery, the department reaffirms its commitment to protecting and empowering survivors of gender-based violence across South Africa.