Victim Empowerment Programme gets funding boost

The Western Cape Department of Social Development allocated R62 866 000 to its Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) in the 2022/2023 financial year, a significant increase from the R45 million that was allocated in 2019. The VEP focuses on providing support to victims of gender-based violence (GBV).

The Department has now allocated a further R1.6 million in addition to the R62 866 000 already allocated to the programme for 2022/2023.

These funds will help aid operational costs at Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) across the province that assist GBV victims and survivors.

A breakdown of the funding allocation:

• R47 000 has been allocated to each of the 20 shelters in the province that provide safe temporary accommodation to GBV victims and offer a range of psychosocial support services.
• Over R55 000 has been allocated to the Mosaic Women’s Training Service and Healing Centre based in Wynberg and provides services across Cape Town. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development identified Strand court as the busiest metro court in terms of the number of protection order applications. There is thus a need to activate court support services for victims to access psychosocial support services, which Mosaic Centre provides. With this funding, two additional social auxiliary work posts can be filled to render court support services.
• R141 000 has been allocated to Siyabonga Huis van Danksegging in Vredenburg.
• Over R296 000 has been allocated to Glen Elgin Community Organisation. Currently there is not a shelter for GBV victims in the Overberg region. A suitable site was identified, and the Glen Elgin Community Outreach organisation subsequently submitted a business plan to manage the shelter.
• Over R217 000 has been allocated to the S Cape in Fish Hoek to increase its available services.

“The work done by our NPO partners in the Victim Empowerment space, despite facing immense challenges like load-shedding and rising operational costs, is phenomenal. We salute all those who provide support to victims and survivors of violence. I do hope the additional funding will offer some respite in this tumultuous economic climate. I once again call on the private sector to come on board and assist NPOs that provide this crucial service,” says MEC of Social Development Sharna Fernandez.