Accra:Gauteng The Gauteng Provincial Government has prioritized ten police stations for enhanced support as part of its plan to tackle gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). This initiative was revealed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during a media briefing following discussions with local mayors, municipal managers, and law enforcement agencies aimed at boosting the provincial response to GBVF.
According to South African Government News Agency, the prioritized police stations, which include Rietgat, Alexandra, Mamelodi, Diepsloot, Ivory Park, Dobsonville, Redhill, Midrand, and Thembisa, have recorded the highest instances of rape. Premier Lesufi emphasized the importance of providing additional resources such as policing, victim empowerment, and handling of dockets at these stations to fulfill the President's mandate.
The provincial government is also reinforcing seven Thuthuzela Care Centres and supporting sexual offence courts, which feature 144 victim-friendly rooms. Furthermore, 19 Medical Legal Clinics will be integrated to help preserve forensic evidence. The South African Police Service (SAPS) GBV desks will be expanded to expedite case handling, and 1,022 GBV brigades will be deployed across 122 high-risk areas. The Department of Social Development will see an addition of 56 social workers.
Lesufi explained that Gauteng will implement President Cyril Ramaphosa's four-point plan for combating GBVF, with an additional focus on safe places for survivors. The four-point plan includes a national case-recovery operation, a plan to reduce forensic backlogs, a women's safety audit, and a legislative package to curb alcohol-related violence.
The provincial government is also auditing existing shelters, identifying ‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“green doors‚¬Å¡¬ as places of safety, and addressing staffing and funding gaps. They are working on a draft plan that has received widespread support from various levels of government. Additional measures include tracking missing persons, supporting their families, and coordinating inter-governmental resources.
An Inter-Governmental Committee on Disaster Management has been established to coordinate local government efforts, while new committees focus on policy and inter-governmental relations, particularly concerning GBVF. Weekly meetings will be held to review progress on these initiatives.
The province is not starting from scratch, having had an anti-GBVF plan in place previously. The current efforts include auditing case numbers, tracking recovery action plans, addressing police station failures, and working with municipalities on safety audits. A technical team will also engage national departments to bolster support.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni highlighted the concerning trend of women being killed by those close to them and stressed the importance of public and familial reporting of abuse. Dialogues for men and families have been initiated to address this issue, and efforts are underway to ensure public spaces are safe for women.
The GBVF Command Centre and Crime Stop numbers remain operational, with the public encouraged to report any information through these channels.
The GBV Command Centre can also be reached by sending a Please Call Me to 1207867#, SMSing 'HELP' to 31531, or contacting Skype Helpme GBV.
