REMARKS BY GAUTENG MEC FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, Ms. NOMANTU NKOMO-RALEHOKO, AT THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM FOR NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVENT IN WEST RAND
Today, we gather to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, a campaign that South Africa adopted twenty-six years ago in 1998 as a strategic intervention towards creating a society free of gender-based violence (GBV).
This period, from 25 November to 10 December, aligns with significant dates, including the International Day of No Violence against Women and International Human Rights Day, highlighting the intrinsic link between eradicating violence and upholding human rights.
This year’s theme, “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children,” calls upon all sectors of society to unite in combating GBV. It emphasises the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate violence and in mobilising communities for collective action.
The Gauteng Department of Health, through its Clinical Forensic Medical Services (CFMS) Directorate, plays a pivotal role in this fight. The CFMS is dedicated to assisting victims and perpetrators of crime, focusing on the prevention of injuries and non-natural deaths.
A significant part of their mandate involves providing medical services to survivors of GBV, including those affected by sexual offenses, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, and human trafficking in all 28 facilities in Gauteng.
In the West Rand District Health Service, facilities such as the Leratong CFMS Care Center and Carletonville Hospital CFMS Care Center operate 24 hours seven days a week, whereas Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital CFMS and Bekkersdal Community Health Centre CFMS operate 12 hours seven days a week offering critical support to GBV survivors.
These canters conduct medical examinations and prescribe appropriate treatments, ensuring that survivors receive comprehensive care. The increasing number of cases attended to at these facilities highlights the urgent need for continued and enhanced support services.
It is crucial to acknowledge that GBV affects all genders. Men and boys are also victims, often suffering in silence due to societal myths and stigmas. Studies have shown that male survivors experience deep psychological scars, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Therefore, our interventions must be inclusive, providing support to all survivors and working to dismantle harmful stereotypes.
Males often don’t report due to myths that are attached to male abuse. The above has been noted in the last financial year. The Clinical Forensic Medicine Centre at Leratong Hospital had seen an increase in number of male patients, in 2023/24 financial year. The centre has recorded 127 domestic violence cases and 35 of them being males and 331 intimate partners violence with 39 being males.
The CFMS Directorate actively engages in awareness campaigns and educational programs aimed at preventing GBV. Initiatives such as dialogues with faith-based organizations, traditional healers, the LGBTQIA+ community, and school programs are instrumental in fostering understanding and encouraging survivors to seek help.
These efforts are aligned with the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence, particularly Pillar Two which focuses on Prevention and Social Cohesion.
As we commemorate this day with the Kagiso community in the Mogale sub-District,
we reaffirm our commitment to:
- Raising awareness about the reality that GBV affects all genders.
- Dispelling myths that limit the recognition of male survivors.
- Mobilising action to prevent and eliminate GBV.
- Engaging boys and men in GBV prevention efforts.
- Providing information on available resources for victims and survivors.
By addressing the trauma experienced by all survivors and promoting emotional healing, we can break the cycle of violence. Mental health support and targeted interventions are essential components of this strategy.
Let us, in line with the theme of this year’s campaign continue to advance collective action to end violence against women and children. Together, we can create a society where every individual lives free from fear and violence, upholding the dignity and rights of all.