“The ongoing prevalence of GBV indicates a deep-seated societal issue that requires urgent attention and intervention at every level, from individual care to systemic reform.” Picture: Ayanda Ndamane /AFrican News Agency(ANA)
GIVEN the scourge of gender-based violence(GBV) against women and children in KwaZulu-Natal, the calls for more intervention from society, government, law enforcement, and organisations have heightened.
This comes as the country commemorates the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, which runs annually from November 25 to December 10.
Adeshini Naicker, the director of Childline KZN, said GBV remained a “serious and pervasive” issue in KwaZulu-Natal.
She said the organisation frequently received calls from children and other individuals seeking help.
“The violence often affects vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, leaving them traumatised and in urgent need of support. The ongoing prevalence of GBV indicates a deep-seated societal issue that requires urgent attention and intervention at every level, from individual care to systemic reform.”
Naicker said while the numbers could vary, they received hundreds of reports of GBV each month across the province.
“Many of these cases involve physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, often perpetrated within family or close community settings. However, as awareness increases, we are also seeing more individuals coming forward to report abuse, but there is still much more to be done to ensure that those affected feel safe seeking help.”
Naicker said despite the extensive support services available, some of the challenges such as under-reporting, limited resources, and a lack of public awareness continue to hinder their efforts to curb GBV.
“Many victims remain silent due to fear, shame, or lack of trust in the system. Additionally, funding constraints often limit our ability to reach every individual who needs help, especially in rural or underserved areas. There is also a need for better coordination between service providers to ensure a holistic response to GBV.
“However, more needs to be done in terms of education, prevention, and support services. This includes raising awareness about the resources available, ensuring that individuals know their rights, and encouraging them to report abuse. There also needs to be stronger enforcement of laws against GBV and sexual violence, as well as a greater focus on rehabilitation and reintegration for survivors. Lastly, empowering communities to intervene early and act as protectors is key,” she said.
Naicker said the police also played a critical role in investigating and responding to GBV cases.
“More needs to be done to train officers in handling sensitive GBV cases with the seriousness they deserve. Police need to be more responsive, especially in cases involving children, and provide a more supportive environment for survivors to report abuse. Additionally, there needs to be stricter accountability for those who perpetrate GBV, as well as better follow-up on reported cases.
“Furthermore, communities are often the first line of defence against GBV. Local leaders, schools, and neighbours must be educated on identifying the signs of abuse and how to respond effectively. A supportive and protective environment is essential for survivors to feel safe coming forward. Encouraging open conversations about GBV, ensuring access to resources, and holding perpetrators accountable within the community can make a significant difference,” she said.
Logan Naidu, president of the Child Welfare Chatsworth, said they were approached by both children and women seeking help. “We have an average of 10 people, both women and children who approach the welfare on a daily basis - which equates to about 200 people a month. This is quite alarming, when compared to the previous year. The number has almost doubled.”
Naidu said while they assisted the women and children to the best of their ability, there was a need for society and other organisations, including faith-based, to be more proactive.
“Five years ago, if a child or woman was abused, people would regard it as unacceptable and react. But now, nobody will want to come forward. But the reality is, we all need to be advocates against GBV.
“Faith-based organisations have great platforms and should play a bigger role in the fight against GBV.”
Naidu said they were hoping to raise R800 000 to open a centre and shelter for abused women and children.
“While we can help in terms of assisting with opening of police cases and protection orders, what happens next? Due to the lack of places of safety, many of the women return to the same abusive environment. The cycle is then repeated.
Daniel Chettiar, chairperson of the North Coast Rapid Response Team (RRT), said they were also dealing with several cases of GBV on a daily basis.
He said the areas with high number reports of GBV were in Tongaat, Verulam, and Phoenix, among others.
“We thought that the high number of cases we had seen a few years ago was due to the Covid-10 pandemic, but what we are seeing now is even worse. GBV is a pandemic itself.
“We often receive reports of women being severely beaten. In one case, a pregnant woman was beaten to the extent that she and her baby died. We also received reports of children being violated, either molested and abused in other ways. However, we refer those cases to the Department of Social Development."
Chettiar, who is also the founder of the non-profit organisation, DSK Group, said there was a need for more preventive programmes in communities.
“It is not only the GBV organisations that need to be out on the streets, but communities, leaders and religious organisations that are taking a continuous stand. They need to reach out to the GBV organisations and activists, and ask us to speak after their services or awareness programmes.
“We also call on the large retail brands to have GBV programmes as part of their CSI projects. We also call on the government to invest in more safe places like shelters for victims,” he said.
Dr Lubna Nadvi, a board member of non-profit organisation, Advice Desk for the Abused, added that GBV had become a serious pandemic in South Africa.
“This has been the case for many years. Femicide has increased exponentially over the last few years, as apart from abusive men using women and children as punching bags they are also killing them in large numbers. Men are also being affected seriously by GBV. GBV, therefore manifests in various ways in South Africa.”
Nadvi said people who are affected by GBV seek the services of the Advice Desk or other similar organisations on an almost daily basis.
“They are either going to court to get a protection order or advice on divorce, maintenance, child support amongst other issues related to family law. GBV is a scourge that manifests in different forms on a daily basis.
“However, there needs to be more focus on a preventative approach to ending GBV, rather than trying to respond to incidents of GBV after they have happened. This would include a comprehensive educational intervention at primary school level which would teach young people how to relate to each other without using violence.
“In addition to this, community spaces need to be used effectively to educate and train people on managing emotions, conflict, relationships etc so that these things do not get out of hand and manifest as acts of GBV,” she said.
Thuba Vilane, spokesperson for the Department of Social Development in KZN, said that KZN consistently reports some of the highest rates of GBV incidents in South Africa, including domestic violence, sexual assault and femicide.
He said a study by the South African Medical Research Council found that one in three women in South Africa experience intimate partner violence, and KZN is among the provinces where the incidence is particularly high.
“On a monthly basis, there are between 150 and 200 women and child victims of GBV within eThekwini Metro that receive psychosocial support services from social workers based at SAPS Centres and Thuthuzela Care Centres.”
Vilane said the department had developed various strategies to respond to GBV.
This included, he said, provision of psychosocial support services by department social workers and GBV expansion programme, among others.
“We have social workers from Lifeline organisations that are based at 120 SAPS Centres, 20 Crisis Care Centres and 9 Thuthuzela Care Centres to assist victims with psycho-social support services, including information on application for protection order and admission to shelters.
“The department’s call centre is managed by two qualified social workers. The aim of the call centre is to offer professional counselling and support to victims,” he said.
Vilane added that communities are integral in both preventing and addressing GBV, femicide and child abuse.
“Communities can build environments where abuse is less likely to thrive, and survivors are more likely to heal. They can contribute through education and awareness, by supporting survivors, early intervention and by empowering men and boys.
“Engaging men and boys in the conversation about GBV and femicide is key to changing attitudes towards violence. By promoting healthy masculinity, respect, and equality, communities can help break down gender stereotypes and reduce the prevalence of violence. Men can act as allies in advocating for women's rights, supporting survivors, and discouraging harmful behaviours in their peer groups,”he said.
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