Question NW4154 to the Minister of Social Development
02 January 2024 - NW4154
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
In light of the fact that the website of her department lists a number of contactable options (details furnished) for victims of gender-based violence (GBV), what number of (a) calls were received and answered, (b) please-call-me notifications were received and in return received a call, (c) Skype calls and messages were received and responded to and (d) SMSs were received and responded to; (2) what number of (a)(i) GBV cases were referred to social workers and (ii) the specified cases have been resolved successfully and (b) how did the call centre of her department assist with resolving the cases in the past 12-months?
Reply:
Below is the statistical information on the contactable options for victim of Gender Based Violence:
a) Calls received
|
Date |
Telephone Calls Received |
|
01 November 2022 – 31 October 2023 |
54 398 |
b) Please-call-me notifications received
|
Date |
Please-call-me Notifications Received |
|
01 November 2022 – 31 October 2023 |
0 |
The Department of Social Development appointed a new service provider for the GBV Command Centre who started 01 November 2023. During that transition phase, certain channels for example SMS, USSD, Skype and Webpage were not fully operational hence, some of the statistical information on these channels for that period are not available.
c) Skype Calls Received and responded to
|
Date |
Skype Calls Received |
Skype Responded to |
|
01 November 2022 – 31 October 2023 |
10 |
09 |
In addition, the following email/website requests were received and responded to for the same period:
|
Date |
Email/Website Requests |
|
01 November 2022 – 31 October 2023 |
572 |
(a)(i) GBV cases that were referred to Social Workers
The GBVCC Social Service Professionals conducted telephonic referrals to various stakeholders at an estimation of 1059 cases in the past 12 months. The Social Workers also conducted 496 written referrals to Social Workers in the different provinces.
ii) Below are the specified cases that have been resolved successfully
Over 1000 cases were resolved successfully based on follow ups conducted by Social Workers and Supervisors on all referred cases.
(b) The GBV Command Centre assist with GBV cases as they provide psychosocial services and support to victims telephonically in terms containment, emotional support, dealing and management of trauma as well as counselling. The Social Service Professionals are working closely with different stakeholders such as SA Police Service, National Prosecution Authority and the Department of Justice. The GBV Command Centre ensures that victims are promptly connected with relevant stakeholders in cases of emergency. They activate the SA Police Service to dispatch a vehicle to the scene immediately to ensure the victim is assisted in a domestic situation. Furthermore, the GBVCC Social Service Professionals will then make the necessary follow up with SAPS as well as the victim within a period of 30 minutes to ascertain that the victim is indeed receiving the required assistance.