Question NW2547 to the Minister of Social Development

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09 October 2023 - NW2547

Profile picture: Masango, Ms B

Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development

What (a) are the details of the resources her department has allocated to implement Pillar 4: Response, Care, Support and Healing of the National Plan of Action Against Gender-based Violence since 2021 and (b) has she found to date has been achieved through the implementation of Pillar 4 in the fight against gender-based violence?

Reply:

a) The National and Provincial Departments allocate funds to NGOs that render prevention and support services to survivors of violence and crime, including gender-based violence as guided by Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. These are inclusive of those rendering immediate response services, shelter ss well as psycho-social support services.

In addition, the department has formed strategic partnerships with a number of funders such as the Global Fund, NEDLAC, Solidarity Fund, European Union, SANAC and the HWSETA. These partners availed resources for the recruitment, training and appointment of the different cadres such as volunteers, social workers and coordinators to provide and increase provision of psycho-social support services across the country. Refer to the table below for the budget allocation for implementation of Pillar 4: Response, Care, Support and Healing:

ITEMS

AMOUNT APPROX.

Criminal and Asset Recovery Account (CARA)

R 100 MIL

Global Fund/NACOSA

R 19.6 Mil

VEP Good and Services

R 16 Mil

GBVF Ambassadors HWSETA

R 4,3 Mil

Transfer Payments to National NGOs

R 4.2 Mil

Overall

R 144,1 Mil

b) There are many successes, including:

  • Intersectoral Shelter Policy and Policy on Provision of Psycho-Social Support Services). Both policies are meant to standardise and strengthening services offered to victims of Gender Based Violence and Femicide. All nine provinces were reached through capacity building on both policies targeting different stakeholders including those from the JCPS Cluster.
  • In partnership with the HWSETA, DSD secured a budget of 4.3 mil for the appointment and capacity building of GBVF ambassadors deployed in the thirty (30) National GBVF hotspots found in six (6) provinces which are (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, and North West)
  • Ensured increased capacity in response, care, support and healing services through the facilitation of the establishment of shelters for abused women as part of response and prevention interventions that address socio-economic needs of women within shelters in the Free State (QwaQwa, Sasolburg and Koffiefontein).
  • A partnership has been established between the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to identify public facilities that are re-purposed for use as shelters for GBV survivors. To date, a total of 95 public facilities have been earmarked for this purpose.
  • Provided funding to 332 NGOs rendering psychosocial support services through transfer payments and CARA funding.
  • Successfully appointed permanently over 200 Social Workers across all nine provinces to deal specifically with GBV cases. Through the Global Fund, the Department was able to deploy on contract 65 Social Workers dealing with GBV cases in the 30 National GBVF hotspots. The Department has also capacitated frontline workers including those from the NGOs in all nine provinces on GBV-related matters.

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