The Gauteng Department of Social Development says it has made significant strides in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), with its Victim Empowerment Centres reaching more than 63 000 victims of crime and violence during the 2025/26 financial year.
The progress was highlighted by Gauteng MEC for Social Development Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko during the tabling of the Department’s 2025/26 Annual Report at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature last week.
The Department funded 115 Victim Empowerment Centres (VECs) during the financial year, exceeding its target of 108. The centres collectively reached 63,538 victims of crime and violence, surpassing the target of 54,530.
The Department's work forms part of the implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, which focuses on Response, Care, Support and Healing.
“We maintained our support to GBV shelters and funded accredited skills programmes to strengthen the economic independence of survivors,” MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
She emphasised that the fight against GBVF requires more than immediate intervention, saying sustainable pathways must be created to help survivors regain their independence and rebuild their lives.
“We mean business when it comes to GBVF. We are not just the leading province in providing resources and actively fighting GBVF, we actually succeed our targets.
“Our approach recognises that protection and economic empowerment must go together. A woman must never be forced by poverty and economic dependence to choose between violence and homelessness.
“A developmental response to GBVF must therefore provide immediate safety while creating the conditions for survivors to rebuild independent and economically secure lives,” she said.
Support for survivors
The Department continues to provide psychosocial support, counselling, referrals and other assistance to survivors of GBV and their families through its social work services.
Its Victim Empowerment Programme also provides survivors with access to protection, counselling, psychosocial support, referrals and other essential services through VECs, shelters and partnerships with funded Non-Profit Organisations.
The department said it continues to support shelters that provide safe accommodation and comprehensive services to survivors at risk of further violence.
Economic empowerment also remains a key component of its developmental approach to addressing GBVF.
Through accredited skills development programmes and other empowerment initiatives, survivors are supported with opportunities aimed at improving their employability, financial independence and ability to sustain themselves beyond the immediate crisis.
The department has also intensified community awareness and outreach programmes aimed at educating residents about GBVF, child abuse, violence against women and children, and other forms of abuse.
These initiatives encourage communities to speak out against violence, report cases of abuse and participate in prevention efforts.
The department said the fight against GBVF requires a coordinated response involving government departments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, communities and other stakeholders.
“Strengthening partnerships remains critical to ensuring that survivors receive timely and appropriate services while addressing the underlying factors that contribute to violence,” the Department said. – SAnews.gov.za
