EKURHULENI ADVOCATES FOR  365 DAYS OF NO VIOLENCE FOR ALL

As the global movement of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children kickstarts on Saturday, 25 November and runs until 10 December, the City advocates for no violence for all.

This according to the City, is achieved by working closely with civil society and private organisations based in the city that offer support to victims of abuse, which include both men and women.

“The high rate of GBV continues to place a heavy burden on the health and criminal justice system, as well as rendering many survivors unable to work or move freely in society. Hence the City is strengthening its fight against the scourge by joining forces with the private sector and giving support to men structures internally. 

“Charity begins at home, while as a city we encourage residents to utilise social services available free of charge at Customer Care Centres (CCC) across Ekurhuleni there are also internal structures such as the Men’s Forum for our staff,” explains the City’s spokesman Zweli Dlamini.

The men’s form structure for the City’s male employee’s whose objective is to support men understand the different forms of abuse and speak out.

Robert Sambo, the Men’s Forum chairperson, says the forum focuses on diverse programmes like psychosocial support groups aiming to motivate, engage, and inspire men to be examples of change in their community. This also includes creating a culture of men also speaking up when they too experience abuse.

The social services offered in the city include but not limited to:

•         Couples counselling

•         Family preservation and counselling service

•         Individual counselling

•         Shelter placements

•         Victim empowerment counselling

The shelter placement aspect of the service follows thorough assessment of the victims living condition, and upon mutual agreement the victim is put in a place of safety that would be a shelter.

Below is a list of the non-government organisations the City works with: