Gauteng making strides against GBV scourge, more to be done - Makhura
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says while there’s been improvement in the latest statistics around sexual assaults and gender-based violence in the country, there is still much work to be done in addressing the scourge.
Earlier this month, Police Minister Bheki Cele released the first quarter crime statistics, where he announced total sexual assaults had decreased by 6.2 percent, with 847 fewer counts reported compared to the same period last year.
Makhura has commended the work of the more than 600 GBV brigade officials on the ground, as well as the work done at the province’s 39 green door facilities, which offer immediate relief against domestic violence and the sexual abuse of women and children.
The premier said while the number of reported cases has decreased in the province, the number of prosecutions has also increased.
He said there are efforts to link places of safety with economic development programmes, including training, in order to empower survivors and reduce the risk of them returning to abusive situations due to a lack of opportunities to generate an income.
“We are linking those [women] with economic development programmes so that they can be independent and earn their own income, run their own enterprises. Some of them have also been able to get employment through partnerships with the private sector.”
Gauteng is the only province that has a War Room on GBVF which is tasked with enhancing strategic institutional and resourcing coordination as well as providing survivor-focused, accessible GBV services.
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