During an oral question session at the provincial parliament, it was revealed that the national Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) lacks provision of support to the Western Cape to address and prevent gender-based violence (GBV). To illustrate this, Provincial Social Development Minister, Sharna Fernandez, informed the House that not one of the GBV-assigned vehicles donated by the German government to South Africa found its way to the Western Cape, despite the province having eight of the top national GBV hotspots.
Further findings were made by the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) indicating that national government is not doing enough to curb GBV. These findings indicate non-engagement and inadequate consultation between national Social Development (DSD) and DWYPD. This means that two government departments currently operate in silos – an approach which cannot effectively tackle the scourge of GBV in the country. We need all hands on deck and the whole of every government at every level to support these efforts.
Gillion Bosman, MPP and DA WC Spokesperson on Social Development says:
However, this is no surprise as a previous report delivered by the CGE on the 2020 targets of national government’s Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAP) showed that government only managed to reach 17 out of the 81 targets.
It was further noted in the session that the national Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, is not holding regular monthly Minister-MEC (MINMEC) meetings. The lack of engagement between the two national Departments, as well as the lack of consultation with provinces, places strain on the collective fight against GBV.
I will be submitting written questions to both Minister Fernandez and the Premier’s department to determine the exact level of support, if any, that DWYPD provides to the Western Cape in the fight against GBV and domestic violence.
