NSMSA 'Disappointed' on the exclusion of GBV in the mid-term budget
The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) is disappointed that Finance Minister, Enough Godongwana, did not mention Gender-Based Violence (GBV) rehabilitation and support funding in his medium-term budget policy statement tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
NSMSA’s Dr Zubeda Dangor, said as shelters are dedicated to ending the cycle of abuse and GBV in society, they are disheartened by the government’s lack of funding.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting almost every aspect of life, with 1,514 cases of attempted murder, and 14,401 assaults against female victims for 2023/2024 in the second quarter reports”,
“For years we have been pleading with the government to help our shelters stay open, but year in and year out we see less funds allocated for our cause while the, stats continue to go up. GBV is a pandemic in our society and one we cannot fight alone. This needs to be a priority for the government, just as much as economic growth is,” Dangor said.
Dangor said that while South Africa continues to grapple with an ongoing GBV crisis, the NSMSA finds this omission both alarming and disheartening.
The rates of GBV remain high and more than 51% of women in the country have experienced GBV at least once in their lives.
“Resources for shelters and rehabilitation services are stretched dangerously thin due to continued funding reductions while the money is being sent back to the Treasury, unspent by the Department of Social Development,” Dangor said.
“The non-mention of funding or rehabilitation initiatives signals a concerning lack of prioritization in addressing one of the country’s most pervasive social issues.”
“GBV victims also have the right to be beneficiaries of inclusive economic growth. They cannot participate nor benefit if they are not in the right state of mind and this consideration cannot be left unaddressed.”
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