PILLAR 4 OF THE NSP-GBVF: A BEACON FOR SHELTER-BASED INTERVENTIONS

By Precious Mupenzi

• The 4th National Shelter Indaba, led by the Department of Social Development (DSD), highlighted key achievements and ongoing challenges in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) through shelter services.
• Discussions focused on the progress made under Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, including policy advancements, infrastructure upgrades, and the push for inclusive services, particularly for LGBTQIA+ survivors and those with disabilities.
• Despite progress, the Indaba emphasised the need for standardised funding, improved service delivery across all districts, and better coordination among stakeholders to enhance GBV response and survivor support.

Although there are still challenges in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), Pillar 4 has registered significant success. During the 4th National Shelter Indaba held in Sandton, Mr Sbusiso Malope, Director of Victim Empowerment within the Department of Social Development (DSD), outlined the practical implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF). As the lead department for Pillar 4, the DSD has made notable progress in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) through sheltering services, focusing on response, care, support, and healing for survivors. Malope highlighted both the department’s achievements and ongoing challenges in this vital area of service delivery.

Malope detailed several significant strides under Pillar 4, which prioritises support for GBV survivors. One major success was the adoption of the White Paper on Social Welfare by Cabinet, a key policy guiding comprehensive support services. Another milestone was the development and implementation of a core package of services for GBV survivors, particularly in shelters providing psychosocial services and emergency housing.

Training and sensitisation of frontline workers on sheltering policies, psychosocial support, and GBV were carried out in hotspot districts across the country. The DSD has also made significant progress in upgrading shelter infrastructure, with four shelters already improved and seven more buildings identified for renovation. The focus on meeting inclusive service standards, especially for LGBTQIA+ survivors, was a notable achievement.

Malope also highlighted the role of legislative reforms in strengthening GBV response services. The Victim Support Services Bill, soon to be presented to Parliament, aims to protect survivors from secondary victimisation and mandates clearer resourcing and state accountability. Reforms to the Older Persons Act and the implementation of the White Paper on Families were also deemed crucial in addressing the wider societal impacts of GBV.

Reflecting on sheltering services, Malope emphasised the need to ensure shelters can serve diverse communities, including the LGBTQIA+ population and people with disabilities. “It is essential that our shelters are equipped to provide inclusive and sensitive care, ensuring no survivor is left without support,” he said. Sensitisation training has been rolled out across five provinces to help shelters offer this inclusive care.

Malope praised the success of partnerships with civil society organisations, such as the Khuseleka One Stop Centres, which have been instrumental in providing comprehensive care. A notable example is the Khuseleka Centre in the Western Cape, managed by the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, which has become a model for integrated shelter services.

However, challenges remain. Malope acknowledged that eight of South Africa’s 52 districts still lack GBV shelters. “There is a need to standardise funding models and service frameworks across all shelters,” he said, adding that the burden of tracking and managing GBV cases often falls unfairly on survivors, an issue requiring urgent attention.

In closing, Malope reaffirmed the department’s commitment to expanding shelter services, improving referral systems, and upgrading the technology used to track GBV cases. “Shelters will continue to play a critical role in providing safe spaces and comprehensive support for survivors as we work to end gender-based violence in our country,” he concluded.