Question NW1838 to the Minister of Social Development
30 May 2022 - NW1838
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether there are any gender-based violence and femicide shelters in the (a) Hantam Local Municipality and (b) Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality; if not, why not; if so, what are the (i) relevant details of the shelters and/or safe houses and (ii) services that are rendered?
Reply:
There are no shelters in the (a) Hantam Municipality nor in the (b) Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality; In partnership with Namakhoi Municipality. The Department delayed to establish a shelter in that district, due to the fact that there has not been statistics of women who need safe accommodation and sheltering services. Establishing a shelter with no baseline information (statistics) may lead to the centre being a white elephant. A shelter was established in Springbok and was managed by an NGO, but it became a white elephant until it was closed down due to the fact that there were no victims accessing the service. Currently the victims of GBV are provided with psycho-social support service even though the shelter non-existent.
The Department is however currently in a process of establishing a shelter in Springbok district.