Pretoria – Victims of gender-based violence in Nsikazi, in Mpumalanga, will get much needed support to deal with their trauma with the opening of a new centre.
Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will on Thursday open the Hlayisani White Door Centre of Hope, as part of Women’s Month celebrations.
The White Door Centres serve as temporary shelter where abused women are helped with food, clothing, counselling and psychosocial support. This protects the women from secondary abuse.
The launch of the Hlayisani White Door Centre is part of department’s work of embracing and promoting the rights of vulnerable women and their children, with a special focus to victims of gender based violence.
The white door centre model was initiated by Gauteng Provincial Government in 2010 and to date the province has successfully established 27 white door facilities.
The Eastern Cape also adopted the model in 2013 and 100 white door centres have now been established.
The department’s long-term plan is to roll-out white door facilities across all nine provinces.
Other initiatives the department has rolled out to provide support to women who experience abuse include the award-winning Gender Based Violence (GBV) Command Centre, a 24 hour call centre providing support and counselling to victims of gender based violence.
Between April 2014 and March 2015, the command centre recorded 3 229 gender-based violence cases ranging from verbal abuse, sexual harassment, indecent assault, emotional and economic abuse.
The victims can call the command centre’s toll free number on 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV), where they speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling.
Callers can also request a social worker to contact them by dialling *120*7867# which is free from any cell phone. – SAnews.gov.za
