STRENGTHENING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS TO COMBAT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

By Precious Mupenzi

• Any response to gender-based violence must be rooted in social justice and economic transformation, according to the Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe.
• The minister was speaking during a bilateral meeting with representatives from the University of Maryland held on the sidelines of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women.
• The meeting focused on exploring strategic areas of collaboration between South Africa’s Department of Social Development and the State of Maryland.

“We cannot speak of gender-based violence without addressing its intersections with poverty, substance abuse, and economic disempowerment,” according to the Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe.

“Our response must be holistic, rooted in both social justice and economic transformation,” she added, while speaking during a bilateral cooperation meeting with Professor Jean Bailey and Dr Shareefah Al’Uqdah from the University of Maryland.

The meeting focused on developing a Memorandum of Understanding between South Africa’s Department of Social Development and the State of Maryland to explore strategic areas of collaboration.

Held on the sidelines of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York, which runs from 10 to 21 March 2025, the discussion highlighted the intersectionality of gender-based violence and the structural challenges that worsen it.

Minister Tolashe emphasised the need for a results-driven approach that moves beyond discussions and delivers tangible change for vulnerable South Africans.

She noted that discussions on this partnership date back to the tenure of her predecessors, ministers Bathabile Dlamini and Lindiwe Zulu.

While initial steps were taken – particularly in KwaZulu-Natal through the sister-state initiative – concrete programmes have yet to materialise.

The minister highlighted the political and administrative shift in leadership as an opportunity to strengthen these discussions and ensure meaningful progress.

Declaring substance abuse a pandemic alongside gender-based violence

A priority for Tolashe is addressing the twin crises of substance abuse and gender-based violence, which she described as having reached pandemic proportions.

She said that current efforts – mainly focused on awareness campaigns and in-patient treatment – are inadequate. Instead, she called for systemic, community-led interventions that address the root causes of these issues, including poverty, unemployment, and social disintegration.

“Substance abuse and gender-based violence are deeply intertwined. Research shows that substance use can both fuel and result from gender-based violence. Survivors often turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, while substance abuse itself worsens violent tendencies,” she stated.

To tackle the substance abuse crisis effectively, Minister Tolashe proposed several strategic actions aimed at ensuring a coordinated, data-driven, and community-centred response.

She emphasised the need to declare substance abuse a national emergency, similar to the country’s approach to HIV/Aids, to enable a comprehensive, multi-sectoral government response.

Strengthening research and data-driven interventions were also highlighted, with a focus on conducting extensive studies and investing in predictive analytics to track high-risk areas.

The minister further proposed expanding community-based prevention programmes, particularly by scaling up the Ke Moja programme beyond schools and into high-risk communities.

She underscored the importance of enhancing the role of the Central Drug Authority, ensuring it fulfils its statutory mandate in implementing the National Drug Master Plan.

To drive collaboration and accountability, she called for the establishment of a ministerial conference on substance abuse and gender-based violence, which would bring together government departments and stakeholders to develop an integrated, results-oriented strategy.

In addition, Tolashe highlighted the role of social security and economic empowerment through social entrepreneurship as a way of addressing the socio-economic drivers of substance abuse.

Another pressing issue on Tolashe’s agenda is economic empowerment, particularly for the millions of South Africans reliant on the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress.

She acknowledged that while social grants provide immediate relief, they must serve as a stepping stone toward financial independence.

“We must move from social welfare to economic empowerment. Too many of our people remain trapped in cycles of poverty, without access to sustainable economic opportunities,” she said.

To bridge this gap, Minister Tolashe proposed expanding the existing partnership between the Department of Social Development, the National Development Agency, the South African Social Security Agency, and Finmark Trust into a national programme that connects Social Relief of Distress recipients with structured training and funding for micro-enterprises.

She also emphasised the need to establish social enterprise hubs to provide training, mentorship, and market access for aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as to develop cooperative models that enable Social Relief of Distress recipients to pool resources and skills for sustainable business ventures.

Scaling up community development and poverty eradication

As the implementing agency for poverty alleviation programs, the National Development Agency plays a vital role in fostering community-driven solutions.

Minister Tolashe stressed the importance of strengthening the National Development Agency’s mandate and leveraging international partnerships for greater impact.

“We need to position the National Development Agency as the primary agent for anti-poverty interventions. Through joint grant-making initiatives and research collaborations, we can empower civil society organisations to drive meaningful change,” she said.

Moving from rhetoric to action

In her concluding remarks, Tolashe expressed urgency in finalising the Memorandum of Understanding with Maryland, ensuring its alignment with South Africa’s national priorities.

She mandated the Deputy Director General of Welfare Services, Siza Magangoe, and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Development Agency, Thabani Buthelezi, to develop an implementation roadmap within two months, with a signing deadline set for May 2025.

“This partnership must go beyond words. It must bring real solutions to the real struggles of our people. The fight against gender-based violence, substance abuse, and poverty requires bold leadership, accountability, and innovative strategies. I am ready to lead this charge,” she declared.

While currently in New York for the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, Tolashe remains steadfast in her vision of a South Africa where social protection empowers communities, resilience is built, and economic opportunities are accessible to all.