Question NW4155 to the Minister of Social Development
02 January 2024 - NW4155
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether her department monitors all the listed Gender-Based Violence (GBV) contact channels 24/7; if not, why not; (2) Whether the reported GBV matters are referred to SA Police Service or any other agencies; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) Who is responsible for manning the GBV channels for each contact line; (4) What are the relevant (a) job descriptions and (b) qualifications of the persons who respond to the GBV contacts?
Reply:
(1) Yes, the Department monitors the GBV Command Centre on a daily basis through social workers and social work supervisors. The Technical Shift Supervisor performs at least one test per shift per channel to test that the channel is active, monitored and promptly responded to. In addition, the Quality Assurers of the GBV Command Centre provide quality assurance as part of monitoring and improving the times in which these channels are responded to.
(2) Depending on the nature of the call, the callers are referred for various services, including the SA Police Service, Civil Society Organizations including GBV Shelters in cases of domestic violence and rape. They are further referred to both Government and Non-governmental organisation (NGOs) i.e. the Department of Justice for protection orders, Department of Health for injuries and NGOs such as Family and Marriage Society of SA (FAMSA), Lifeline for face-to-face counselling on family preservations. The GBV Command Centre also refers cases to the Local DSD offices through the provincial offices.
(3) The GBV Command Centre is managed by qualified Social Workers and Social Work Supervisors with the support of Technical Shift Supervisors in terms of testing and ensuring that all the channels are fully operational.
(4) (a) Please see below attached annexure A on the three Job Descriptions as per the Occupation Specific Dispensation (Social Auxiliary Worker, Social Worker and Social Work Supervisor).
(4) (b) The qualifications are BA Social Work or Bachelor of Social Science in Social
Work for Social Workers and Social Work Supervisors; and a Certificate in
Social Auxiliary Work for Social Auxiliary Workers.