Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) say they hope President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce an increase in funding for shelters dealing with gender-based violence cases.
Executive Director at St Anne’s Women’s Shelter in Woodstock, Cape Town, Joy Lange says the funding they currently receive from government is not enough to provide adequate services for GBV survivors. The president is expected to address several issues the country’s been grappling with during his State of the Nation Address, on Thursday.
In his last State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said government would do more to fight the scourge of gender-based-violence.
Executive Director at St Anne’s Women’s Shelter in Woodstock, Joy Lange, says she hopes government increases funding for women’s shelters this year.
She says the shelters play a critical role in helping survivors of gender-based violence build a better future for themselves and their families.
“Shelters provide critical work, but at the same time, shelters only receive 39% of their funding from government. So, they are hugely underfunded and they don’t just provide the safety. It’s keeping women and children safe; it’s providing the emotional and psychological support; it’s providing that safe space in terms of accommodation for a period of time. It actually gives women an opportunity to reset and re-work their lives,” says Lange.
A rape survivor in Cape Town, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she believes that the country’s criminal justice system is failing victims of Gender Based Violence. She says police do not have the necessary training or empathy to deal with GBV cases.
She says victims are also mistreated when they approach the courts for help.
“I’ve spoken to so many women and the same story I hear is (that) when they go to court and they have to deal with the magistrate and it’s the same experience. We are treated like criminals. It’s like the way they speak to us, they are not interested in helping,” a GBV survivor explains.
Political Science Professor at the University of Stellenbosch, Amanda Gouws, says government needs to commit to the implementation of new laws aimed at helping survivors of gender-based violence.
Professor Gouws, who also specialises in gender politics says the recent signing of three amendment bills to deal with GBV, is a step in the right direction.
“We have just passed three amendment laws dealing with gender-based violence and those laws will make the environment better for women in terms of gender-based violence, but what we need is preventative measures. So, issues around gender-based violence and what it is and how to deal with it needs to be included in the curriculum in schools. In that sense, the Minister of Education also needs to be part of the process,” says Gouws.
Ramaphosa is expected to deliver his State of the Nation Address from the City Hall, in Cape Town, on Thursday evening.
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