According to the recent statistics released by SAPS days before South Africa commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, crimes against women and children has been on a devastating increase. More than 9,500 rape cases were recorded and over 13,000 women assault cases were also recorded.

Kerryn Rehse, the advocacy, policy and research officer at MOSAIC, said, “The rate of domestic violence, sexual violence and other forms of GBV remain consistently high. Research findings estimate that 1 in 2 women will experience domestic violence from their current or previous intimate partner in their lifetime.“

Rehse said the impact of GBV, especially domestic violence, was far-reaching.

She said it led to adverse effect on the direct victim, the children exposed to the violence, and communities. Rehse said GBV happened in homes and schools, among other places, and that a coordinated response was required to help combat it.

MOSAIC is a community based non-governmental organisation. It offers holistic and integrated programmes aimed at preventing abuse and violence against women.

Jennifer Chetty, the founder and director of Sinika Uthando, a counselling centre, said 2 to 3 women affected by domestic violence reached out to her organisation for help weekly, yet some women chose not to leave abusive relationships due to stigma.

“Some women stay to save their reputations. Failure is not what a woman wants to be remembered for.”

Lubna Nadvi, a board member at the Advice Desk for the Abused, said one should not ask why women remain in abusive relationships.

“The question should be, ‘why are there not more options available to women or men if they are victims of domestic violence and GBV and want to leave a relationship?’.”

She said women and girls should be taught that they must never accept any form of abuse or violence.

“A national conversation must take place across society and at all levels. It cannot simply happen between government officials and some NGOs that deal with GBV.

“It must happen between parents and children and other family members, teachers and learners, between friends, colleagues and those who do not know each other. All of society has to take the issue seriously enough and act if there is to be any real change.”

Adeshni Naicker, a director at Childline KZN, said South Africa had one of the highest statistics relating to abuse against children.

The abuse, she said, included neglect, sexual abuse, exploitation, emotional abuse and starvation. Naicker said they received almost 3 000 calls a week and 99% of these were related to some sort of abuse and GBV.

Javu Baloyi, the spokesperson for Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), said there has to be a strong political will to fight GBV. He said the CGE received almost 20 GBV-related cases a week, of which about 10 were relevant to the mandate of the commission. Those that were not relevant were referred to the relevant institutions.

“Resources must be ploughed into this fight and we must move from rhetoric to actions,” said Baloyi.

“Civil society and government must work together and the private sector must also play a critical role. We need a permanent GBV council structure from the government, which is well-resourced both in terms of human resources and finance.”

Mhlabunzima Memela, the spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, said: “GBV has been declared as the second pandemic after Covid-19 and as such awareness must be raised 365 days…

“Currently, there are 23 shelters and 29 White Door Centres of Hope provincially to accommodate victims of GBV and femicide. The department also established two shelters for men, who are victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse in eThekwini and uMgungundlovu districts.”

He said they had expanded their psycho-social services in eight Thuthuzela Care Centres spread across six districts, including Phoenix, Chatsworth and Umlazi in eThekwini, and 183 social workers were appointed to render psycho-social support services. In addition, Memela said there were 92 victim-friendly rooms at police stations.

Analisa Naidoo, a social worker at the Sahara Shelter for abused women and children in Phoenix, said shelters offered women safety in a crisis. She said they also offered a warm and nurturing environment for the abused person’s healing process.

Naidoo said they took in about seven women a month, some of whom were mothers.

“Women often reach out when the abuse is severe, such as when they sustain injuries, or when the children are involved or exposed to the abuse directly. We need skills development for some of the women to earn an income.

“We need the swift finalisation of protection orders and the police to be more proactive when approached for help. All sectors must work together to see a change.”

The Sahara shelter is a project of the Phoenix Child Welfare Society.

Kish Chetty, the marketing manager at the Aryan Benevolent Home in Chatsworth, said they had the ABH VJ Kara Family Centre. She said it aimed to empower women who’ve suffered physical, emotional or financial abuse

Chetty said they received about 20 calls a week related to GBV but not all required shelter services. She said the facility also helped the perpetrators of GBV, so that the cycle of domestic violence could end.