MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

GBV Survivors need 365 days of support, not 16 days of lip service

By

Dear Editor

As we mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, we must remember that the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is ongoing and requires 365 days a year of focus. Focusing on it for just 16 days is not enough.

GBV is out of control in the Eastern Cape, where women and children are continuously murdered, sexually assaulted, and attacked.

Today, I was joined by DA EC Provincial Chairperson Yusuf Cassim MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Social Development Marlene Ewers MPL, DA EC Provincial Spokesperson Cllr Georgina Faldtman, DA NMB Spokesperson for Corporate Services Cllr Annette Lovemore, and Chairperson of the DA Women’s Network in the PE Northern Areas Constituency Cllr Sandra Fillis, as we held a protest at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Ward 11 office in Schauderville, Gqeberha.

The protest was in support of Enough Noow, a non-profit organisation based in the community. Enough Noow is dedicated to actively contributing to the fight against GBV.

In February of this year, they submitted a letter requesting permission to set up a container on the grounds of the Ward office, but were ignored by the municipality. This container would serve as both an office and a private space for counselling sessions with victims, if the municipality stopped ignoring them.

The DA followed up on behalf of Enough Noow and on 20 June, the official application, along with the initial letter, was resubmitted, and additional follow-ups were made to expedite the application, but once again the organisation has received little feedback and assistance from the Metro.

Therefore, today, as we mark 16 Days of Activism, the DA handed over a memorandum demanding that the municipality fast-track this application and provide feedback within the next seven working days.

It is unthinkable that an organisation wanting to provide support and counselling to victims of GBV has had to wait 10 months for a response from the municipality regarding its application that can help survivors of GBV in Nelson Mandela Bay. Does the Metro, under the ANC-led coalition, not care about the work of an entity supporting the fight against GBV?

The struggles in the Eastern Cape are well-documented: there is a lack of social workers, safe spaces, and shelters, and the Department of Community Safety has been allocated a budget of seven-times smaller than the neighbouring Western Cape province, under the DA.

The women and children of the Eastern Cape deserve better assistance, protection and care. The DA will not forsake the most vulnerable members of our society. We will continue our fight against GBV to ensure the safety and protection of our communities.

Regards

Nomvano Zibonda
DA Women’s Network EC Provincial Chairperson

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